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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Black ice covered by snow on roads

Olga Major, Andrei Galynine and Yualiya Burdeyna, from left, make the leap across a berm in the middle of the west 900 block of Riverside Avenue during a heavy snowstorm over Spokane on Monday, Dec, 29, 2008. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Olga Major, Andrei Galynine and Yualiya Burdeyna, from left, make the leap across a berm in the middle of the west 900 block of Riverside Avenue during a heavy snowstorm over Spokane on Monday, Dec, 29, 2008. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jody Lawrence-Turner jodyl@spokesman.com(509) 459-5593
Sunday’s snow melt was a blessing and a curse because now all that water has turned to ice, officials said. Roads are extremely slick this morning, said Spokane Police Officer Teresa Fuller. And snow is falling, which is covering up the black ice. Meanwhile, all the city’s plows, sanders and de-icers have moved back on to the arterials, said city spokeswoman Marlene Feist. “Truckers are encouraged to use chains in the city limits today because of the heavy snow.” Interstate 90 in the West Plains area is reportedly the worst area for ice, Fuller said. A few slideoffs have been reported in that area. Authorities expect to respond to numerous collisions today as the snow continues. For travelers, the mountain passes in Washington and Idaho are expected to get more snow today. Traction devices are recommended on Snoqualmie and Stevens passes in Washington, officials said. Chains are advised for Lookout and Fourth of July passes in Idaho.