Area winter storm to continue into today

Feb. 09--The Palouse region and the surrounding areas are under a winter weather advisory until 1 p.m. today because of predicted snow accumulation, cold temperatures and wind gusts as high as 50 mph.

In Nez Perce and Asotin counties, where a hazardous weather advisory is in effect, light snow is expected to create slick driving conditions and below average temperatures throughout the weekend.

According to the National Weather Service, Whitman and Latah counties could experience as much as 3 to 5 inches of snow and heavy winds by the time the advisory ends.

In Lewiston, the NWS forecast calls for a 40 percent chance of as much as 1 inch of snow and gusts of up to 24 mph.

Throughout the Inland Northwest this weekend, periods of light snow will linger and below average temperatures will arrive today and persist through much of the week.

The forecast for the Palouse calls for a 40 percent or 50 percent chance of snow each day through Tuesday.

The high temperature on the Palouse today will be 25 degrees with a low of 18. Temperatures are expected to dip in the coming days with nighttime temperatures falling to single digits. In the L-C Valley, today's high temperature is expected to be 32 degrees with a low of 18 degrees into the night.

As the winter weather hit the Palouse Friday, snow created hazardous conditions on the roads. A driver east of Moscow was pulled from his truck Friday morning after a crash on Robinson Park Road.Emergency medical technicians from the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department helped the driver exit the vehicle, which came to rest at about 9 a.m. on the roadway apparently after sliding to the shoulder then rolling on its side.

The driver did not appear to be seriously injured, and declined to be taken by ambulance to the hospital.

The Latah County Sheriff's Office also responded to a non-injury slide-off accident on Little Bear Ridge Road near Troy.

Whitman County deputies responded to an accident on Wilcox and Sommers roads between Colfax and Dusty.

The NWS advises drivers to prepare for slippery road conditions, patchy blowing snow that could reduce visibility and cold wind chills as low as 25 degrees below zero that could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

The Spokane Regional Health District issued a health advisory Friday afternoon about life-threatening health problems that can occur because of exposure to cold temperatures. With temperatures reaching single digits in the coming days, infants, the elderly and animals are particularly at risk.

It advised people going outdoors to wear several layers of loose-fitting, light-weight, warm clothing, as well as mittens and a hat. Covering the mouth with a scarf can protect lungs from extremely cold air.

It also advises to stock up on emergency supplies, make sure fireplaces function properly and make sure vehicles are filled with gas.

Signs of frostbite include a white or grayish-yellow skin area, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy or numbness.

Signs of hypothermia include slurred speech, disorientation, uncontrollable shivering, stumbling, drowsiness and a body temperature of 95 degrees or less.

Anthony Kuipers can be reached at (208) 883-4640, or by email to [email protected].

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