Major snowstorm heralds winter’s arrival across university system

By Communications staff, Washington State University
A snowman with a WSU Cougars logo and falling snow in the background.
The first major snowstorm of the year brought 4.4 inches of snow to the Pullman campus.

All Washington State University campuses are back to normal operations today following the first major snowstorm of the season to hit the Pacific Northwest.

Pullman received 4.4 inches of snow Wednesday, which is almost double the amount of the white stuff the city normally gets during the entire month of November, according to the National Weather Service. In Spokane, around nine inches of snow fell, breaking the previous daily snowfall record for Nov. 30 of 7.5 inches. In Everett, between 2–4 inches of snow fell.

The Spokane campus suspended operations Wednesday and the Everett campus had a delayed start.

The storm served as a reminder for faculty and staff to be aware of personnel processes in place for periods of inclement weather and suspended operations. Human Resource Services has links to policies and procedures, as well as WSU snow removal and tips for safe driving on their Inclement Weather web page. Employees should work with their supervisors about remote work/leave options if they are unable to report to work safely.

In addition to the National Weather Service, WSU’s AgWeatherNet provides useful updates from its network of automated weather stations throughout the state. Current conditions and other information can be found on its website.

Check out some of the snowmen members of the Cougar community made and other wintry images captured by WSU Photo Services in Pullman below.

(Click on thumbnails to enlarge)

WSU Pullman

  • Footprints on a snow-covered sidewalk.
  • Closeup of a snowman with snow falling in the background.
  • A student walking through snow past the Crimson Cube at WSU Pullman.
  • Four WSU students walking through the snow on the Pullman campus.
  • A small snowman resting on a table as a WSU student walks by.
  • A WSU student flashes a peace sign while bundled up in the snow.
  • A man shoveling snow on the WSU Pullman campus.
  • A WSU student making a small snowman.
  • A student walking through snow on the WSU Pullman campus.
  • A WSU student climbs a flight of snowy stairs on the Pullman campus.
  • A WSU employee in a small utility vehicle clearing snow on the Pullman campus.
  • Two WSU students taking a selfie with a snowman.
WSU Pullman remained open on Wednesday, Nov. 30, gaining a few new snowy residents in the process.

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