Weather

There was no truly drenching hurricane across the Northeast this year, and no El Nino effect. It just rained on and off and on again through spring, summer and fall. And yet, with a few weeks to go, 1996 is lining up as the wettest year in the 12-state region since record-keeping started in 1894. Although snow fell often last winter, the only really big blip on the weather chart was the second week of January, when the Blizzard of '96 dropped 1-1/2 feet to 3 feet of snow. It was blamed for more than 100 deaths. The El Nino phenomenon, a warming trend in the water of the tropical Pacific that can sharply alter weather patterns around the world, was not active, he said.

1. Some like it hot. A life-sized poster of Marilyn Monroe in a store window on West Second Avenue sparks fond memories of warmer days as 6 inches of snow fell on Spokane Wednesday. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review 2. Kevin Lyonnis tries to keep up with Wednesday's snowstorm as he shovels off the walk outside The Bon Marche. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 3. The long ride home. Bill Hall got a ride home on Kathleen Avenue in Coeur d'Alene on Wednesday, even if it was in the back of his friend's El Camino. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review (This photo appeared in Idaho edition only.)

While the onslaught of icy weather paralyzed much of the region with power outages and icy roads, conditions on the wetlands around Spokane are "ducky." Lakes, streams and ponds on the West Plains and south Spokane County are quickly filling with water.

Some of the region's imaginative and innovative residents survived more than a week without electricity and still had light, television reception, hot water and warm living and dining rooms and kitchens. While most families stumbled around in near-freezing rooms lit by candles and flashlights, the innovators lived comfortably until the line crews finally turned on their electricity. When his lights went out, Don Ostlund, one of the region's most imaginative fishermen, knew exactly how he could provide emergency light for he and his wife, Karen. He used a system he and other anglers use when they fish at night for kokanee.

Sixteen-year-old Leah Phillips holds her license and registration at the ready Tuesday afternoon after her truck collided with a school bus at 37th and Bernard. No one was hurt. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

The way Washington Water Power Co. handled Ice Storm '96 is unacceptable. There is no good reason for people living in a city this size to go for more than three days without power. I see two reasons why this has happened: One, WWP didn't have an adequate disaster plan; and two, WWP seems more concerned about stockholders and bottom line financial figures than about the paying citizen.

Jesee Dawson shovels some snow from the top of The view Cafe near Cocolalla Lake, Idaho. Helping him are Jason Raiser and Adam Long. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Muscovites are scratching their hatless heads and wondering where their winter went. Last month was the warmest November on record in western Russia, and the first "officially" snowless one for Moscow. So instead of waking up to winter wonder each morning, Muscovites have been waking up to winter weirdness.

Debris duty. Cemetery worker Kerry Clark saws up fallen trees at Forest Cemetery in Coeur d'Alene, where 44 trees were damaged and must be removed. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

A 28-year-old Bonner County woman died outside her home over the weekend, apparently from exposure, Bonner County authorities said. Alice Ward was found Saturday by her boyfriend on the porch of her Algoma home, south of Sandpoint. Authorities said the woman had been drinking the night before and had an argument with her boyfriend. He came back to check on her, found her dead outside and called authorities. The woman was dressed but not wearing a coat or gloves.

Ice storm forestry. Cemetery worker Kerry Clark saws up fallen trees at Forest Cemetery in Coeur d'Alene, where 44 trees were damaged and must be removed. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

With more than 50 main power poles snapped or crashed to the ground at Priest Lake, it could be weeks - maybe even months in some remote areas - before power is restored. "We got some pictures back from Priest Lake and I am amazed at the damage," said Northern Lights spokeswoman Elissa Glassman. "We are doing everything we can to restore power, but in many areas at Priest Lake the system will have to be rebuilt." Northern Lights serves about 12,000 customers in Bonner and Boundary counties and parts of Montana. The company still had more than 1,000 residents without power late Monday. More than 40 inches of snow that fell during the last two weeks felled trees, sending them toppling into power lines and poles. Priest Lake was the hardest hit; hundreds of trees came down. Telephone service on the east side of the lake has been out since last Wednesday for some residents. Sherry Townsend has been without electricity for seven days. "Right now we are using a Coleman lantern and the wood stove," said Townsend, who lives about 11 miles north of Coolin. She finally made it out of her home to work at the Inn at Priest Lake Monday. She and her husband have a generator but are using it to keep the freezer running so their meat doesn't spoil. "It's a mess up here," Townsend said. "We have gone through December's wood in the stove already. In some areas farther north of us they are talking it could be March before power is restored." Glassman said it's impossible to estimate when the more remote areas of Priest Lake will have power again. Crews are still assessing the damage but can't get to some roadless areas in the deep snow. "We are starting to get people back on in other areas and most of the customers have been very understanding," Glassman said. "This kind of weather is just part of living in North Idaho." Townsend said the Inn at Priest Lake was booked over the weekend with snowmobilers and cabin owners from Spokane arriving to check damage to their property. "With all the snow and the trees coming down they wanted to see if their roofs had caved in," she said. Northern Lights crews are currently replacing power poles in Boundary County and clearing trees from lines near Naples and Sandpoint. Some customers have been without power since Thanksgiving. "We are making good progress and just hope the weather holds," Glassman said. Northern Lights said it will call back customers to make sure their power has been restored. The company also reminded those who are using generators not to wire the generator into the house. That could cause dangerous electrical feedback to power lines and injure crews working on them.

The emergency officially ended Sunday, almost two weeks after a powerful ice storm swept through the Inland Northwest, snapping trees like pencils and knocking out power to 100,000 homes and businesses. About 1,300 homes in Eastern Washington and North Idaho served by Washington Water Power Co. and Inland Power and Light were still without electricity late Sunday.

Bob Rehnborg joined volunteers who showed up Saturday to clean up around the city. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

With power restored to nearly all of its customers on Saturday, Washington Water Power began helping Inland Power and Light bring electricity back to homes around Newman Lake. The main feeder line that runs around the lake community should be repaired by Monday, said Inland Power spokeswoman Nikki Mikkelsen. Hundreds of residents there should have power restored to them within a week, Mikkelsen said.

Alicia Bryan, 14, Spokane

While many Inland Northwest residents celebrated the return of power on Friday, people living in the Newman Lake area worried they may have a dark Christmas. Bolstered by sunshine and mild temperatures, utility crews made good progress restoring power in other parts of the region.

Weather finally cooperated with utility workers on Friday in Kootenai County, where most of the powerless were expected to have electricity restored this weekend. But snow and ice still on the roadways caused accidents while downed trees and power lines kept snowplows away from many streets. Frustration shifted to the Panhandle's northernmost counties, where telephone and power lines fell to the ground.

With 3 to 5 feet of snow on the slopes, Friday should have been a banner day for the 49 Degrees North ski resort - except for the power outage that shut down the lifts. "It could have easily been a $50,000 day and, to the little guys like us, it kind of hurts," resort owner John Eminger said. "But, if you're in the ski business, you learn to take the good with the bad. I had a great weekend last weekend."