Spokane streets to get full plow

Spokane street crews have embarked on a full plowing operation of all city streets in what is called a stage 2 snow event.

Crews finished plowing arterials and emergency travel routes and shifted to a wider plowing of residential streets.

Additional crews were called into help with the effort.

Residents are asked to move vehicles off all arterials and bus routes. Downtown parking spaces need to be clear of vehicles from 2 to 6 a.m. to allow for plowing.

Vehicles need to be moved to the side of the street with even house numbers during the residential plowing. The idea is to create more room for snow removal.

Residents can help by clearing snow off vehicles, removing snow from curb ramps, fire hydrants, storm drains, mail boxes and sidewalks.

For more information, go to my.spokanecity.org/.

The residential plowing was ordered after the city received 6 inches of snow on the ground with more on the way.

In Post Falls, plowing of residential streets started at 3 a.m. Tuesday.

The National Weather Service is predicting gusty winds in Spokane on Tuesday, following a snowstorm overnight. That could result in drifting snow across roads, the weather service warned early Tuesday.

Sustained winds are expected between 15 and 25 mph, with some gusts as strong as 40 mph. Tuesday’s high temperature is expected to hit 34 degrees. The thermometer reached 31 degrees by 7 a.m. and the snow had ceased in downtown Spokane.

Wind gusts reached 38 mph at Spokane International Airport about 9 a.m. Snow had stopped falling about 7 a.m.

Winter storm warnings were in effect until 10 a.m. Tuesday in North Idaho and the Palouse. Parts of central Washington and the Cascades have a winter storm warning until Wednesday morning.

Blowing snow was evident on a traffic camera at Uniontown north of Lewiston.

Cameras in Pullman and Colfax showed wet streets with some slush.

Spokane Transit Authority had two bus routes - No. 2 and No. 45 - running on snow detours, which has caused the buses to be off normal schedule.

Some flights to and from Seattle were delayed or cancelled Tuesday morning.

Local road crews were out in force Tuesday morning trying to clear streets and highways. Spokane County had a full force of 92 trucks working on its 2,000-mile network of roads.

In Spokane Valley, crews were expected to begin a plowing of residential streets at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

Spokane Valley residents can monitor progress of the plowing online at spokanevalley.org/SnowInfo.

Elderly or disabled persons who are physically and financially unable to remove snow or ice are encouraged to call 2-1-1 (or 1-866-904-9060) for referrals to assistance that may be available in Spokane Valley.

Freezing rain on top of snow was reported in Whitman County Tuesday morning.

On the Snoqualmie Pass, chains are required on all eastbound vehicles that aren’t all-wheel-drive. All westbound vehicles must have traction tires, and oversize vehicles are prohibited in both directions. Drivers should expect heavy snowfall with slush and ice on the roadway.

Traction tires are also required on all vehicles traveling on Stevens Pass.

Idaho officials are warning drivers to use caution on Lookout Pass, where blizzard-like weather and icy roads caused several crashes early Tuesday. Strong winds are expected to carry that snow through Lewiston and into the Palouse region.

Lookout Pass ski area had a foot of snow from the storm as of Tuesday morning.

Silver Mountain ski area to the west had 5 inches of new snow. Mt. Spokane had 4 inches of fresh powder.

Spokane airport had 6 inches of snow on the ground Tuesday.

As of Monday, Spokane had received 17.2 inches of snow for the month and 20.5 inches for the season, which is about an inch more than normal not counting snow that fell after midnight on Tuesday.

Several crashes also were reported on Interstate 90 near Spokane Valley.

Following the winter storm overnight, the weather service isn’t predicting more snow until Thursday.

High temperatures during the week should be in the lower 30s with lows in the 20s. Wind gusts are likely to continue through tonight.