Freezing rain moves into Spokane; flood watch issued

Freezing rain has made roads slippery overnight, causing some rural school districts to delay or cancel classes on Wednesday.

The Washington State Patrol reported slide-off crashes Wednesday morning on U.S. Highway 2, U.S. Highway 395, U.S. Highway 195 and state Highway 291. No serious injuries have been reported.

“It’s icy all over,” said WSP Trooper Jeff Sevigney. “Freezing rain is falling and the road temperature is still below freezing…slow down.”

School districts in Spokane County, however, have not canceled or delayed school.

Districts that have announced closures include: Columbia, Lind-Ritzville, Mary Walker, and Moses Lake.

Districts that have announced two-hour delays include: Creston, Curlew, Harrington, Inchelium, LaCrosse, Odessa, Valley, Washtucna and Wilbur.

Jeff Cote, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said freezing rain began falling in Moses Lake about 4:30 a.m. and about 6 a.m. in Spokane. The threat of freezing rain should end around 10 a.m.

Temperatures are expected to reach the lower 40s today and likely won’t go below freezing tonight as more rain moves in. Up to three-quarters of an inch of rain could fall in some parts of the Spokane area Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

A flood watch has been issued for Spokane, Stevens, Pend Oreille and northern Spokane counties in Washington and Bonner and Boundary counties in North Idaho. No rivers currently are predicted to flood, but the weather service is concerned that rapid melting could cause ice jams that spark flooding.