Snow at ski resorts despite milder temps at lower levels

Despite the mild and wet conditions at the lower elevations of the Inland Northwest, area ski resorts are reporting new accumulations of snow, and more is expected through the holiday weekend. All of the region’s resorts have reported new snow in the past 24 to 48 hours with temperatures at or just below freezing at their lodges. As much as a foot of new snow could fall at ski areas north of Spokane and Coeur d’Alene over the next day or so with the heaviest snow expected Saturday. The National Weather Service said snow levels to the north of Spokane and Coeur d’Alene will be about 4,000 feet in elevation, which is just below the level of ski lodges. Snow levels may be at the 5,000-foot range in the central Panhandle mountains in Idaho and Blue Mountains in southeast Washington. Snow accumulations could be about three inches, forecasters said.