Winter Weather Advisory issued overnight
A crew plows the parking lot of the Safeway shopping center early this morning.
CHENEY – Area residents are awaking this morning to a Winter Weather Advisory issued for Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens and portions of Lincoln counties.
The advisory was issued at 3:01 a.m. by the National Weather Service in Spokane and includes the Idaho Panhandle. It is set to expire at noon.
"It also came as heavy snow was falling across the region.
"The first in a series of wet and winter weather systems will arrive in the region through New Year's Eve bringing wintry travel conditions," the advisory said. "More storm systems are expected through the week."
More than 3 inches of snow reportedly fell in the Cheney area overnight, and up to 2 additional inches are expected."
Area businesses were busy having parking lots plowed at 6 a.m.
"Travel during today's morning community will be slippery and difficult with light to moderate intensity snow expected to continue through noon today," the statement said.
The Washington State Patrol had already been called out to several slide-offs overnight, officials said.
South of Cheney, the snow tapered off to a light dusting at Ritzville.
A Hazardous Weather Outlook was issued for Adams, Whitman and most of Lincoln County, among other areas of Eastern Washington.
"Moderate accumulations of snow will occur over the eastern Columbia Basin today," the outlook said. "Snow will change over to rain this afternoon.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, columnist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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