SPOKANE, Wash. — The National Weather service measured 2.1 inches of snow at the Spokane Airport on Wednesday morning.
The snow began falling on Tuesday night and continued into early Wednesday morning.
Traffic was snarled across the city as slick roads made for difficult morning commutes.
The NWS and state Department of Transportation are suggesting commuters leave with extra time this morning, as many roadways are covered in snow.
Snow stopped falling in Spokane around 5 a.m. on Wednesday and around 6 a.m. in Coeur d'Alene.
Snow plows left around 4 a.m. on Wednesday to clear I-90 in Spokane, according to WSDOT.
City crews have deployed sanders and deicers on arterials, hills and bridges. Plows are addressing areas where there is enough snow accumulations.
Crews prepped the streets with deicer before the snow started falling and they have been working throughout Wednesday morning.
City leaders reminded drivers to slow down and watch following distances.
Some snow will likely begin to melt on Wednesday afternoon, with high temperatures in the upper 30s. Road conditions should slowly begin to improve.
Drivers should expect difficult travel over mountain passes on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Thursday will likely bring the biggest back-ups over the passes.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for a handful mountain passes, including White, Stevens, Snoqualmie, Dobson and Lookout, from 1 p.m. on Wednesday until 10 a.m. on Friday. WSDOT says heavy snow is expected.
The weekend will bring cooler temperatures but drier conditions outside.
This is the most snow Spokane has seen since more than two months ago in early October.
A record-breaking four inches of snow fell in the Spokane area overnight on Oct. 8. The previous daily maximum record was a trace of snow on Oct. 8, 1981.
Trees fell on power lines and into roads during the storm, knocking out power for tens of thousands of residents and snarling the morning commute.