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State Highway 27 closed at Fairfield

Rathdrum Prairie sees whiteout conditions on Idaho Hwy. 41

Harvey Brink snowblows his driveway at Highway 53 and Ramsey Rd. in Rathdrum, Idaho during the blizzard on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011. The Idaho State Patrol urged motorists to avoid the Rathdrum Prairie due to drifting and blowing snow. (J. Bart Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
Harvey Brink snowblows his driveway at Highway 53 and Ramsey Rd. in Rathdrum, Idaho during the blizzard on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011. The Idaho State Patrol urged motorists to avoid the Rathdrum Prairie due to drifting and blowing snow. (J. Bart Rayniak / The Spokesman-Review)
The Washington State Patrol this afternoon has closed state Highway 27 in both directions due to blowing snow and poor visibility between Fairfield and Tekoa. The closure started about 1:30 p.m. The National Weather Service this afternoon said that the near-whiteout conditions on the Palouse had the potential to be life threatening should motorists get stuck or go off the roads. Earlier in the day, the Idaho State Police said visibility on the Rathdrum Prairie in Idaho was down to zero and the agency urged drivers to stay away from the area. High winds are creating heavy snowdrifts on State Highway 41 as well as county roads, police say, and there have been numerous slide-offs and crashes.