Winter storms set to push into Spokane this week

A series of winter storms will roll through the Inland Northwest this week bringing a mix of snow and rain, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow is forecast to arrive early Tuesday. By afternoon it’s expected to turn to a rain and snow mix as temperatures hover in the 30s in Spokane.

In some areas the snowfall could amount to 2 to 4 inches, according to a winter weather advisory issued by the NWS.

A similar pattern will unfold on and off the rest of the week.

Wednesday should be dry. On Thursday another storm could blow into the region setting up Spokane for a chance of snow and rain during the weekend.

While the valleys will be mired in wet and sloppy conditions, the Cascades and the mountains of northeast Washington and North Idaho could be slammed with heavy snow.

In Coeur d’Alene there could be 3 to 5 inches of snow by the end of Tuesday.

Spokane residents awoke Monday morning to the first overnight snowfall to affect the morning commute this season.

The National Weather Service reported some areas north and west of Spokane received close to 2 inches, while about an inch and a half was measured at about 6 a.m. at its Airway Heights office. In areas near downtown, about an inch fell.

The snow made some roads slick, leading to multiple car accidents, including a pair of fatal crashes – one near Loon Lake north of Spokane and another in Grant County, according to the Washington State Patrol.

By commute time Monday morning, much of the city’s residential streets remained snowy and icy. Arterials already had been deiced soon after snow fell, said Marlene Feist, the city’s spokeswoman.

Feist said snowplows likely wouldn’t hit all of the roads, as a majority of the snow is expected to melt throughout the day while temperatures hover in the mid-30s.

“Pretty much business as usual,” Feist said. “It’s kind of the first morning snow, so people get a little nervous.”