Snow still a threat until 10 p.m. today

Forecasters say snow will be falling as localized showers today with 1 to 3 inches possible in areas where the showers are strongest. The showers through 10 p.m. will give way to a mostly dry weekend. Icy conditions continue to make roads treacherous for commuters. Those traveling west into Spokane on Interstate 90 may have found themselves in a backlog of traffic earlier this morning. A reported two-car accident with minor injuries blocked some lanes briefly, but the Washington State Patrol said shortly before 9 a.m. the roadway was clear. There were several other reports of accidents and collisions on side streets following a particularly nasty travel day Wednesday. A Winter Weather Advisory will remain in effect through the evening hours, the National Weather Service said in an updated forecast this morning. Forecasters say snowfall will persist throughout the day, with accumulations of an inch to 3 inches expected in areas where showers occur. The forecast changes by Friday with mostly or partly sunny skies likely Friday through Sunday before the risk of snow returns on Monday. Low are going down to the upper teens and 20s through the weekend, and then into the 12 to 13 degree range early next week. Highs will be in the lower 30s through Sunday and then the upper 20s Monday and Tuesday. Heavier snowfall will be seen in North Idaho and the central Idaho Panhandle, where a winter storm warning remains in effect. Up to a half foot of new snow is possible in the Panhandle mountains. Ski area reports showed the variability of the snowfall amounts. Schweitzer ski area near Sandpoint reported 5 inches of new snow in the past two days while 49 Degrees North near Chewelah had 3 inches of new snow, less than the 4 inches that have fallen in Spokane since Tuesday night. Silver Mountain Resort at Kellogg in North Idaho had 7 inches in that same period. The weather service issued a snow report at 9:30 a.m. for snowfall amounts over the previous 24 hours. Amounts ranged from 1 to 3 inches with 2.5 inches at the weather service office northwest of Airway Heights in Spokane County and 3 inches in Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene. So far this season, Spokane has seen 13.5 inches of new snow at Spokane International Airport compared with an average through Jan. 29 of 33 inches.