Spokane pounded by snowstorm again

Yet another winter storm pounded Spokane on Monday, extending the holiday break for tens of thousands of children after the Spokane County sheriff recommended that all county schools remain closed because of hazardous roads.

The National Weather Service also warned that the number of roof collapses in the area could rise as heavy rains were forecast to arrive Tuesday and add crushing weight to the tons of snow already on many rooftops. Rising temperatures could also quickly melt snow and cause flooding later this week, the agency said.

Rising tempers also were a problem.

One man was arrested by Spokane police after gunshots were fired Monday morning at a private snow plow operator who was clearing a parking lot. Police said the motorist apparently got upset when the plow operator honked his horn.

"It's safe to say that fuses are short, people are frustrated and we are having an increase in neighborhood disputes regarding snow-related issues," said Jennifer DeRuwe, a police spokeswoman.

Spokane, a city of 200,000, was largely shut down Monday, as up to 8 inches of snow fell.

Spokane has already received an amazing 77.6 inches of snow this winter, and appears likely to surpass the local record of 93.5 inches set in the winter of 1949-50. The heaviest snowfall typically occurs in January and February.

The eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 across Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascade Range were reopened Monday afternoon after being closed overnight by heavy snow. The westbound lanes were reopened Monday night. Also closed were many highways in the Palouse, in the state's southeast corner.

About an inch of snow fell on Seattle late Sunday, but disappeared after overnight rain and daytime temperatures in the mid-40s.

The weather service said Ritzville in Eastern Washington broke its 24-hour record for snowfall when 5 inches fell in the period that ended at 6 a.m. Monday. The previous record of 3.5 inches was set in 1980, and records have been kept since 1899.

The weather service posted a winter storm warning for the west slopes of the Cascades through Tuesday morning, with another foot of snow expected beyond the 12 to 18 inches that has fallen since the latest storm began Sunday. Avalanche danger was listed as extreme in the Cascades.

For Eastern Washington, the forecast called for snow to change to rain because of rising temperatures Tuesday, with a deluge of as much as 2 inches expected in some places.

"The combination of rain and rapid snow melt could create significant urban and small stream flood issues," the weather service said.

A major problem is that ice covers many storm drains, the agency said.

The agency also warned that rain can be absorbed by snow and develop into a crushing weight, especially on flat or low-sloped roofs. There have already been more than two dozen roof collapses in Spokane.

"The problem of snow loading is going to get worse during the next two days," the agency said, in an area running from Davenport, Wash., to Sandpoint, Idaho.

The Weather Service estimated that the weight of the snow on roofs in the Spokane area was about 23 pounds per square foot. Local building codes call for roofs to be able to handle 30 pounds per square foot.

A roof collapse at a Spokane strip mall Monday caused a gas main break and also knocked down a power line, triggering an evacuation of the surrounding neighborhood.

A community center in nearby Cheney, the Wren Pierson Building, had its roof begin to collapse on Monday, and was closed.

Officials announced Monday that the Cheney, East Valley and Riverside school districts in the Spokane area would remain closed on Tuesday.

Spokane children, whose Christmas break began two days early because of snow, got another day off Monday. Classes were set to resume Tuesday.