Flurry of snow hits Spokane, ski resorts ahead of dry week

An hourlong band of snow swept across Spokane on Friday starting about 1:30 p.m. Airway Heights saw about an inch stick to the ground, with no accumulation recorded in lower areas.

At Airway Heights, “roads were somewhat slushy and wet,” said Robin Fox, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Spokane. She said snow mostly stuck to grass and untouched surfaces.

She said the back edge of the snow band came at about 2:30.

“It was a fast mover,” she said of the east-moving snow.

“The mountains aren’t really going to be seeing too much difference from the lowland,” she said. “Maybe 2 inches.”

Brenda McQuarrie, Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park’s guest services manager, said she expects about 4 inches at the mountain.

“This snow is awesome,” she said, “although that isn’t enough to open safely right now.”

She said lower temperatures expected next week will allow the park to bring its groomers out and get the runs open.

Another round of precipitation was expected Friday night, likely a mixture of snow and rain.

“Then we’re in for some dry weather next week,” Fox said. “Drier and colder. The mild temps we’ve been having will come to an end.”

Sunday and Monday are expected to see highs of 33 degrees.

Spokane won’t see more snow until next Friday at the earliest if the forecast holds up, she said.

Ski resorts should see a few inches from the precipitation Friday and Saturday morning, according to Fox.

Mt. Spokane has had 2 inches of snow since Wednesday, bringing the base to 4 inches at the lodge and 19 inches at the peak. The National Weather Service expected another 1 to 2 inches Friday afternoon and another inch at night. Another half inch could fall Saturday, but the weather is looking dry throughout next week.

Silver Mountain in Kellogg, Idaho, hasn’t reported any new snowfall in 48 hours. It has four lifts open with 28 trails, 12 of which are groomed.

Schweitzer Mountain in Bonner County, Idaho, was expecting 1 to 2 inches of snow on Friday. It has one lift and eight trails open.

49 Degrees North in Stevens County had 1 inch of snow of Friday. One chair and five groomed trails are open.

Lookout Pass Ski Resort in Montana saw 3 inches of snow since Thursday evening. Three out of its four lifts are open for the weekend, including 24 trails, 12 of them groomed.