Heavy snow misses Spokane area, but more expected to fall ahead of Monday morning commute

The worst of a winter storm appears to have missed Spokane, but more snow is on the way.

The National Weather Service forecast previously called for up to 8 inches of snow in the Spokane area by Monday evening. While about 1 to 2 inches did fall Saturday evening into Sunday morning, most of the heavy snowfall happened south of Spokane on the Palouse.

“We are revising that,” said weather service forecaster Robin Fox. “We’re a little behind on our snow total for today.”

The new forecast calls for much lighter weather than previously predicted. About 1 to 2 inches of snow and rain mix was expected by Sunday evening heading into Monday morning. Temperatures were expected to peak above freezing Sunday afternoon, then drop to below freezing before commuters take to the roadways Monday morning.

Weather service forecasters warn roads could be icy and slick.

“It depends how they treat the roads,” Fox said. “But air temperatures will be below freezing.”

Major roadways were mostly bare and wet Sunday morning and the Washington State Patrol reported “a handful of collisions here or there,” but nothing out of the ordinary.

In Coeur d’Alene and eastward, forecasters were predicting as much as 8 inches of snowfall in some areas. The heaviest snowfall still was expected on the Palouse, including Moscow and Pullman, with as much as 6 to 14 inches expected through Tuesday evening.

These areas still are under a weather advisory until 10 p.m. Tuesday.

The Spokane area remains under a weather advisory as well. Weather service forecasters said they’re still working to determine how much precipitation is on the way.