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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Area Motorists Slide Into Spring After Surprise Snowfall

Virginia De Leon And Winda Benedetti S Staff writer

It’s not spring yet.

Inland Northwest residents were reminded of that Saturday after 3 to 5 inches of snow fell, depending on the location.

“It’s still winter,” said John Livingston, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Spokane. “Part of the problem is that everybody’s tired of it. They’re ready for spring.”

North Idaho roads and highways were littered with vehicles sliding off the icy pavement. Accidents were reported on Interstate 90 between Coeur d’Alene and Spokane, as well as U.S. Highway 395.

In Boundary County, U.S. Highway 95 was shut down at the North Hill after so many trucks and cars slid off the road.

Bonner County sheriff’s dispatchers had two words to describe their northern road conditions: “really cruddy.”

“I-90 was really bad,” said Coeur d’Alene Police Sgt. Ron Clark.

Idaho State Police chased between 20 and 25 accidents alone Saturday. They were so busy, they called out Coeur d’Alene police to help them cover the highway accidents.

In Spokane, police and fire dispatchers were bombarded with accident calls as vehicles slid on icy roads, but no serious accidents were reported. Saturday morning traffic on I-90 near Pines Road slowed to a halt when an accident involving several cars blocked one lane.

“Stay off the roads,” one dispatcher warned.

Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 was closed Saturday because of snow slides. The pass was expected to reopen late Saturday night. Stevens Pass on U.S. 2 was also closed because of snow slides.

Despite the snow and icy roads, residents may get a respite from winter weather in the next few days.

Temperatures today are expected to reach the mid-40s. Snow will turn to rain and the warming pattern will continue for the next week, Livingston said.

Depending on the amount of rainfall, the higher temperatures - expected to reach the 50s by mid-week - may cause urban flooding and smaller streams to overflow, Livingston said.

, DataTimes