3 to 6 inches of snow forecast in lower elevations
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for 3 to 6 inches of snow through tonight across lower elevations in the region.
Saturday’s snowfall made roads slick as the Washington State Patrol reported 63 separate crashes across Eastern Washington, including 56 in Spokane County. About 50 crashes were reported in the five northern counties in Idaho.
At least two people had to be removed from cars at Highway 27 and Dishman-Mica Road in Spokane County following a three-car crash.
Some flight arrivals and departures at Spokane International Airport were delayed.
A storm is expected to blow into the Spokane area today after moving over the central Pacific Ocean on Friday and tapping into moist subtropical air. Forecasters said today’s storm should initially bring up to 3 inches of snow before its milder air replaces the cold currently over the region. Up to a foot of snow is forecast for northern counties of Eastern Washington and North Idaho through the weekend. Mountains to the north could see up to 3 feet.
Snow is expected to change to rain in most valley areas tonight and continue on Monday.
The milder weather may last only a few days. Cooler conditions are expected by Thursday with the forecast showing a chance of rain or snow at lower elevations later in the week.
Snow is forecasted for the mountains through the coming week, although some rain may fall at middle elevations in mountains near the Silver Valley on Monday and Tuesday.
Lows in the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas are expected to be in the 20s with a high of 32 forecasted for today. Highs Monday and Tuesday should be near 40.
Of the region’s ski areas, only Lookout Pass is open, with a 15-inch base of snow reported on Saturday at the ski area on Idaho’s border with Montana.
The others reported base depths of six to 15 inches – one good storm away from opening, as stated in a snow report from the 49 Degrees North ski area near Chewelah. In other words, as written by an anonymous spokesman for Silver Mountain resort: “We need Mother nature to give us some interlocking stellar crystals.”