Spokane experiencing fifth-snowiest season

Sun., March 30, 2008

The Spokesman-Review

It’s spring, but Friday night’s snowstorm seemed straight from the middle of winter, pushing Spokane’s snowfall higher in the record books and dumping more than a foot on most ski resorts.

Between four and six inches fell in the Spokane area; at the airport the figure was 4.9 inches, according to the National Weather Service. That pushed the winter of 2007-‘08 to fifth place on the all-time snowfall list, with a seasonal total of 82.4 inches.

Elsewhere, the snowfall was even deeper – more than a foot fell in Coeur d’Alene and across North Idaho. A foot and a half dropped in Spirit Lake, the National Weather Service said.

It was a bounty for ski hills, which are typically shutting down about now. Mount Spokane was scheduled to close this weekend, but after receiving 20 inches of snow the resort announced it would open next Saturday and Sunday.

Next Sunday is the scheduled closing day for other ski hills in the region, though the new snow may make extensions possible. Eighteen inches fell at 49 Degrees North; 15 inches dropped at Schweitzer Mountain Resort; a foot fell at Lookout Pass; and Silver Mountain got 6 inches.

More snow was expected overnight and through today, with a slight chance of more on Monday.

– Shawn Vestal

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