The East Valley School District has canceled all after-school activities today because of the snow.

“Some of our streets and hills are getting nasty,” said Executive Director of Operations Brian Wallace.

He said the district has not made any decisions about tomorrow.

The Washington State Patrol has closed Highway 27 between Fairfield and Tekoa because of poor visibility. It is unknown when the road may reopen. Be very careful when driving through areas prone to drifting and blowing snow.

School children all over the Valley are giddy this morning. Probably everyone knows by now that just about every school district is closed today - Freeman, Central Valley, West Valley and Liberty. East Valley is on its winter break this week, so they are not racking up a snow day they'll have to make up later. Highway 195 between Spangle and Rosalia was closed for several hours this morning, but it is now open again.

The City of Spokane Valley started a full city plow this morning. Still, be careful on the roads until things get cleaned up. Don't forget there's ice under that fresh new snow.

I took the picture above in my front yard this morning after I spent an hour digging out my car and my driveway. The snow was deep, but thank goodness it was pretty light and fluffy. Now it needs to stop snowing so I don't have to do it again.

As a winter storm arrives in Spokane, Wash., snowflakes land and melt on a car window on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011. SR photo/Colin Mulvany

Well, the snow we've all been eagerly anticipating is here. At the moment it is tough to see across the parking lot. The scanner is still fairly quiet, though I would expect that to pick up as the snow accumulates. So far there's a semi accident on Highway 195 near Babb Road with the driver still trapped inside. If any particular spots get nasty as the afternoon progresses, I'll let you know.

1:44 p.m. update: If anyone was planning to head over to Coeur d'Alene, use caution. The westbound lanes of I-90 are shut down between Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls due to a nine car accident. Roads are apparently very slick there with the Idaho State Patrol dealing with more than half a dozen accidents.

2:22 p.m. update: A six car pileup was just reported in the eastbound lanes of I-90 at Argonne. Emergency crews are on the way.

2:27 p.m. update: Three car accident at Bowdish and Mission. It's officially getting nasty out there.

3:12 p.m. update: Accident reports are continuing to come in steadily. Check here for information on the weather by reporter Mike Prager. Be very careful driving home tonight. 

3:32 p.m.: Heading away from the scanner. Everyone drive safely. Check here for school closure information tonight and tomorrow morning.

A state trooper checks out a slide off in the median near Barker Road this morning on I-90. Snow was falling heavily in North Idaho and eastern Spokane Valley Thursday morning. SR photo/Jesse Tinsley

There have been a steady stream of accidents all day on the scanner. Even though the dusting of snow doesn't look like much, it is proving to be quite slippery. There have been numerous accidents on the freeway, a car plowed into a fence this morning at 32nd and Pierce and earlier someone slipped and fell on the ice at Fourth and Bowdish and broke a kneecap. Everyone use extra caution out there.

The Liberty School District in south Spokane County has announced that all students are being sent home right now (11:15 a.m.). Bus routes will run normally. All after school practices have been cancelled.

The scanner is strangely quiet this morning. There doesn't seem to be a lot of accidents at the moment, but the hills are a bit dicey. If you were planning to head into Spokane, you might want to find a route other than I-90. The westbound lanes look like a parking lot west of Havana because of a major accident near the Maple exit. Other than that, just be careful out there.

11 a.m. update: The roads are a lot worse now than they were at 7 a.m. Roads and parking lots that were plowed early this morning now look like they haven't seen a plow blade in days. And you end up doing more sliding than steering on corners. I heard something on the scanner about a semi backing down on hill it couldn't make it up, possibly on Forker Road. At least I-90 is flowing smoothly again. For now.

The scanner is beginning to hum with a steady stream of accidents caused by the weather, so be careful out there. Sullivan Road near the freeway is currently backed up because of a truck on fire. Drive safely!

2:47 p.m. update: Bigelow Gulch Road sounds particularly bad. A deputy said he has cars all over the ditch up there. It would probably be a good idea to avoid that area.

3:37 p.m. update: It tooks like northbound traffic on Argonne Road is completely shut down just north of Upriver Drive. There have been multiple accidents on the hill.

As you get ready to drive home, be extra careful. The scanner is humming with reports of cars sliding off the road and into ditches and snowbanks. If you’re heading south from Spokane, a deputy has requested that Hatch Road be closed south of 57th until a sand truck can come through. “I’ve got cars sliding all over the place,” he said.

On the heels of several rural school districts closing early today, a few schools have already announced closures for tomorrow and there will surely be more announcements later in the day. Check our web site or this one to get up to date information on closures.

(originally posted at 11:09 a.m.) The Washington State Patrol has announced a few road openings in the last few minutes. Highway 195 is now open in Whitman County. Highway 23 is now open between Harrington and Steptoe. I’ll update the list as more are announced.

11:36 a.m. update: Highway 23 is now closed between Sprague and Steptoe.

2:17 p.m. update: Highway 23 is open again. For now.

(top) Spokesman-Review photographer Bart Rayniak took this shot at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetary off Trent Ave. during the huge snowstorm in December 2008. (right) A look at Sprague and McDonald outside the SR valley office in December 2008. You wouldn’t know it, but there’s a bench under that bus stop sign. SR editor Jeff Jordan took the picture. 

The bit of snow we got yesterday is a wake up call that winter is here and if the prognosticators are right, we’re in for quite a bit of snow this year. The city of Spokane Valley has activated its snow line (720-5311). There will be a recorded message, updated once or twice a day, that gives residents information on the city’s plowing activities. People can also sign up to receive email updates on plowing by going to the city’s web site and clicking on email updates.