SPOKANE, Wash. — Light snow is making for slick roads in eastern Washington and North Idaho.
Snow began falling at about 6 a.m. on Spokane's South Hill. KREM viewers in North Idaho, including Rathdrum and the Silver Valley, also reported heavy snowfall.
A rain/snow mix fell in downtown Spokane.
Temperatures sat near freezing on Monday morning, so some snow accumulated throughout the Inland Northwest.Snow tapered off at about 8:30 a.m. for much of the Spokane area, turning into a wintry mix.
KREM's Evan Noorani said areas of the upper North Idaho Panhandle will likely see the most significant snowfall, with up to six inches expected to fall in Sandpoint.
A Winter Weather Advisory was in effect for Spokane and North Idaho into the Palouse until 10 a.m. on Monday.
City of Spokane leaders said on Monday morning that residents were seeing a mix of conditions and reminded drivers to give snow response crews room to work.
The state Department of Transportation said Interstate 90 through Spokane was mainly bare and wet for the morning commute, but crews were still treating the roads. They reminded drivers that trucks applying material will travel at 35 mph or less on freeways.
DOT leaders say drivers should also watch for compact snow and ice on Highway 395 from Deer Park through Colville.
Snow is expected to transition to a wintry rain/snow mix or rain by late Monday morning or early afternoon, with temperatures warming into the low 40s.
High winds are also in the forecast around the Inland Northwest. Gusts upwards of 45 mph are possible in Spokane between noon and 2 p.m. on Monday, with stronger gusts expected in the evening.
A Winter Storm Warning was also in effect for the Cascades through 10 a.m. on Monday due to heavy mountain snow.
Several more inches of snow are expected to fall, with 5 to 14 inches in places.
While snow is expected to turn to rain Monday, the National Weather Service Seattle said travel conditions could be "very difficult to impossible" through Monday evening. Avalanche conditions could also persist on Stevens Pass.
Spokane will see high temperatures on Tuesday in the mid-40s, with rain in the lower elevations and even on Snoqualmie Pass. Lookout Pass will likely see heavy snow into Tuesday.
The National Weather Service Spokane says a significant winter storm is possible for both the lowlands and mountains on Friday. Noorani said the chance of snowfall in the Spokane area is high at about 80 percent.