Snow, freezing rain making Spokane roads slippery

UPDATE 4:30 p.m.: The National Weather Service’s freezing rain advisory has expired. UPDATE 4 p.m.: Washington State Patrol troopers have responded to multiple minor-injury and non-injury collisions throughout Spokane County. There have been multiple slide-offs and two rollover collisions on State Highway 195 between Hatch Street and Mullen Hill Road. Troopers also responded to numerous collisions on Interstate 90 eastbound and westbound between mileposts 275 and 277. There were three collisions on State Highway 395; one two-car injury collision near Hatch Street, another two-car injury collision just north of Hawthorne Road and a one-car non-injury collision three miles south of Deer Park. UPDATE 2:12 p.m.Washington State Patrol is responding to several working collisions in the area, including an unoccupied trooper’s vehicle that was struck, said Trooper Jeff Sevigney. No one is seriously injured. UPDATE 2 p.m.: Spokane street maintenance crews will be working this afternoon to spread de-icer on streets along the South Hill as snow begins to fall. The National Weather Service is reporting snowfall will continue through the 4 p.m. hour, with accumulations up to 2 inches possible. A freezing rain advisory has been issued through 4 p.m. ORIGINAL STORY:A strong Canadian cold front is expected to dump snow on the mountain passes this weekend and mire the Inland Northwest in frigid temperatures next week. The National Weather Service reports snow will begin in the mountains late in the day Sunday, falling rapidly overnight and making travel treacherous along the Cascades as the holiday weekend ends Monday morning. Forecasters also expect rough conditions at Sherman Pass and Lookout Pass in northern Washington and Idaho on Sunday night. Rain is likely for the Spokane area Sunday, switching over to light snow Monday. Accumulation is not expected to top a half-inch, then the chill will set in. High temperatures in the latter part of next week may not climb out of the teens, with lows potentially plummeting into the single-digits. The last time high temperatures failed to reach the 20-degree mark was in February 2011, according to the National Weather Service. While records may fall in some areas, unprecedented low temperatures likely won’t be seen in Spokane. Record lows for the first week of December dip below zero, according to National Weather Service data. In addition, a stagnant air advisory remains in place for much of the region through Saturday at 4 p.m. High levels of pollutants sitting over the area due to light winds and cold temperatures could aggravate those with allergy and sinus issues.