Icy streets cause crashes, slide-offs

Friday afternoon’s snow arrived just in time to snarl the evening commute, with nearly two dozen crashes reported by 6 p.m.

The Spokane Police Department is asking people not to drive if they don’t have to, as police and fire department crews struggle to keep up. Cars and buses have been having a difficult time making it up or down the South Hill.

One massive crash near Ninth Avenue and Ben Garnett Way around 5:15 p.m. Friday involved nearly 20 cars and a Spokane Transit Authority bus, as cars spun and slid sideways as they tried to get down the hill.

The city of Spokane reported Friday evening that 20 de-icers, sanders and plows were taking to the streets in an effort to improve driving conditions.

Snow will keep falling on Spokane and Coeur d’Alene through Saturday night, and temperatures appear likely to drop on Sunday and Monday.

The National Weather Service is predicting 3 to 4 inches of snowfall by the end of Saturday, with temperatures between 26 and 31 degrees. It should stop snowing by Sunday morning and temperatures that day will likely range from 19 to 26 degrees.

The heaviest snowfall should happen Friday night into Saturday morning in the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area. The best days for holiday travel will be Sunday and Monday, when there should be little new snow on the roads.

The snow is expected to resume Monday night and there is a chance of snow showers on Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Snoqualmie Pass, drivers should expect overcast skies and wet roads with some slush. On Stevens and Sherman passes, traction tires are recommended, and oversize vehicles are prohibited due to falling snow and ice on the roadway. Lookout Pass has slush and patches of packed snow. The North Idaho mountains could pick up a significant amount of snow Friday night and Saturday.

Pullman and other towns on the Palouse should expect 4 to 6 inches of snow through Saturday night. Forecasts show 2 to 3 inches in Colville and Chewelah.