Pullman to experience intense weather this week

Black ice could be a safety hazard as temperatures are expected to be 20 degrees below normal

National+Weather+Services+said+wind+gusts+could+be+up+to+40+miles+per+hour+and+last+until+around+6+or+7+p.m.+each+night.

RYAN PUGH | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

National Weather Services said wind gusts could be up to 40 miles per hour and last until around 6 or 7 p.m. each night.

ANDREA GONZALEZ, Evergreen reporter

Pullman will experience winds with gusts up to 40 miles per hour this week, according to the U.S. National Weather Service website.

Jeff Cote, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Spokane, said the wind gusts will last until sunset, typically around 6 or 7 p.m. The wind will affect areas in Eastern Washington and the Columbia Basin.

Pullman Police Cmdr. Chris Tennant said citizens should take precautions and look around for any objects that can get caught in the wind.

The wind gusts will not be strong enough to blow the shingles off the roof of a house, he said. However, people may want to close the windows since there could be a high amount of dust being blown.

Tennant said any objects outside the home that people do not want to be blown away, such as plants, umbrellas and barbecue grills, should be put inside. People also may want to cover gardens, fruit trees and delicate plants, he said.

“It’s a lot better to put objects inside the home than having broken items afterwards,” Tennant said.

The wind is not alarming from a safety point. There have been worse on the Palouse that have been classified as hurricane-force, he said.

The reported winds this week are not hurricane-force gusts but can still be dangerous, he said. There have not been any recent injuries from this of which he is aware.

The wind will pick up later in the afternoon, around the time that people get out of class or work, Tennant said.

Cote said later this week on Friday night and into the weekend the temperature will drop lower than normal.

The temperature Saturday will be 20 degrees below normal, he said. It is reported to be around 46-47 degrees Fahrenheit in the Spokane area.

There will be overnight lows in the 30s and potentially temperatures near freezing Monday and Sunday morning, Cote said.

Tennant said the cold weather in September is a week or two earlier than normal but not out of character for Pullman.

The cold weather may cause black ice on the roadways, he said. Pullman is made up of hills and there could be a safety hazard if people do not anticipate black ice.

Black ice can cause cars to start sliding and there is not any stopping power so people can get the car out of control, he said.

It can be difficult to see black ice on the roads, Tennant said. Residents help avoid accidents by slowing down ahead of time in case there is any black ice on the road.