Multiple crashes reported on I-90; arctic freeze arrives for weekend

Slippery roads made for a tough commute, and the start of school was delayed for many school districts on Thursday as the region braced for the next arctic blast.

The National Weather Service is calling for a high of 10 degrees Friday with a low of minus 7 on Friday night, followed by a high of 5 and a low of 1 on Saturday and Saturday night.

Temperatures will moderate starting Sunday with a high of about 18, but the chance of snow also increases by Sunday afternoon. Snow is also expected early next week, with temperatures going up to the middle 30s for highs on Monday and Tuesday.

On Friday, the Washington State Patrol reported multiple crashes on Interstate 90 from Freya Street to the top of the Sunset Hill.

Trooper Randy Elkins said he wasn’t aware of any serious injuries in Spokane County due to the crashes. He said motorists should leave early, drive slowly, increase their following distance and use alternative routes “if at all possible.”

“There will be backups,” Elkins said.

I-90 at Lookout Pass was blocked Thursday afternoon when a semitruck jackknifed and became entangled with a second truck.

The city of Spokane reported that it increased road crews to six sanders and 15 de-icers. Earlier it reported five sanders and 10 de-icers working on city streets. Residents can call 755 to report icy areas.

Spokane County road crews are working to clear roads before subzero temperatures sweep in Friday night and Saturday morning, said county spokeswoman Martha Lou Wheatley-Billeter.

Up to 14 graders, plows, sanders and de-icers are working roads in each of the county’s four road districts.

Wheatley-Billeter said many residents have called to complain that plows have moved snow in front of their driveways. She said the county doesn’t have equipment needed to prevent snow from blocking driveways, and asked residents to help neighbors who may be unable to remove snow by themselves. That’s particularly important to do before temperatures dive Friday and removing snow becomes harder.

“It’s going to be like trying to move an iceberg off your driveway,” she warned.

Compiled dispatch records show more than 20 collisions were reported in Spokane County Thursday morning.

WSP reported a fatal crash involving a semitruck and two cars in Whitman County on U.S. Highway 195 about 3 a.m. The highway remained blocked 3 miles north of Steptoe as of 8 a.m.

Spokane International Airport reported 1 inch of snow as of 4 a.m. Thursday.

Areas to the south were hit harder. The town of Palouse received about 4 inches. The weather service received a report of 7 1/2 inches near Lewiston. In Idaho, 3 inches were reported 2 1/2 miles west of Coeur d’Alene and 1 inch was reported in Hayden.

Light snow continued into the afternoon, even falling after the sun appeared. Daytime accumulation was negligible Thursday.

Spokane Public Schools started on time Thursday, but buses were a half-hour late for elementary school students and one hour late for middle school students.

Numerous schools on the Palouse and to the west of Spokane have canceled classes or delayed the start of school because of the snow.

St. John-Endicott, Washtucna and Lacrosse school districts are closed.

Many others are on a two-hour delay. They are: Garfield-Palouse, Ritzville, Sprague-Lamont, Lind, Steptoe, Colton, Colfax, Steptoe, Tekoa, Pullman and Washtucna.

Spokane airport had nearly all flights operating normally early Thursday. However, there were afternoon and evening delays on connections to or from Portland, Seattle, Boise and Salt Lake City.