Late snow upsets weather-weary
Forecasters say today’s dusting will be followed by clearer skies, warming trend
Maybe it was the 93-plus inches of snow the area had already endured; maybe it was the fact that this is the Inland Northwest’s spring break week; or maybe it was the lack of sunshine.
Whatever the cause, people were irritated to see the snow blanketing the area as they awoke Thursday.
“I was mad,” said 14-year-old Sierra Walsh, who is on spring vacation from Chase Middle School. “I hate it.”
The teen was wandering around downtown Spokane with her friend, 15-year-old Morgan Weer, who was just as thrilled about the weather.
“It’s spring break and I can build a snowman,” the Lewis and Clark student said.
The National Weather Service measured 2.9 inches of snow at the Spokane airport Thursday from midnight to 11 a.m., which shattered a previous daily record of 1.2 inches set in 1920.
Sorry, spring breakers. The snow will continue through this morning, but less than an inch more is expected to accumulate, according to the National Weather Service.
A few choice swear words came to 34-year-old Carl Fletcher’s mind when he saw the snow Thursday. He had just bought a car and was sure he’d crash on his way to work because of the slick conditions.
It doesn’t help that Fletcher is a San Diego transplant. “I’ve been here for the two worst winters” in history, he said.
As of Monday, the Weather Service reported 93.8 inches of snow had fallen in Spokane, making this the snowiest winter ever. With the addition of Thursday’s snow, the grand total is about 98 inches – so far, said meteorologist Jeffrey Cote.
But not everybody was disgusted with the snow. Irl Burlison, who works at Mini Doughnuts in Riverfront Park, likes the chilly, wet weather. “I can put enough clothes on to stay warm, but I can’t take enough off to stay cool,” Burlison said. “The only thing I don’t like about the weather is it keeps people inside” and slows business.
Well, good news, Irl. A warm, dry spell of weather is headed to the Inland Northwest, according to the weather service. Forecasters predict temperatures in the upper 50s with mostly sunny skies by Sunday, and on Monday, it could reach 60.