More snow moving into Cascades, Eastern Washington

A storm packing heavy snow moved across the Cascades and Eastern Washington on Tuesday, and the region braced for days of additional snowfall.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the east side of the state, along with the Olympics and Cascades. Four to 8 inches of snow was expected Tuesday and Wednesday in the Spokane area, which already is having one of its snowiest Novembers ever. Up to 18 inches is likely in the Cascades.

"The Interstate 90 corridor is expected to feel the brunt of this storm, from Snoqualmie Pass to Spokane to the Idaho/Montana border," the weather service said.

Rain and high winds are forecast for the lowlands of Western Washington.

At Snoqualmie Pass, snow and slush covered the roadway Tuesday and traction tires were required.

Spokane plow crews that barely finished removing snow from the Thanksgiving weekend storms have been working 24 hours a day in the metro area.

A snow emergency has been declared in the city, meaning north-south streets were plowed Tuesday and east-west streets Wednesday. Drivers are required to park off streets being plowed or face having their vehicles towed.

The forecast of 4 to 8 inches of snow would set a November record for Spokane and likely turn Tuesday evening's commute into a nightmare.

As of Monday, the weather service had measured 20.6 inches of snow this month at Spokane International Airport, making it the fifth-snowiest November since record keeping started in 1893. The record of 24.7 inches was set in November 1955.

Spokane already has had more snow than the 13.7 inches recorded in all of the 2009-2010 season.

A La Nina cooling in the tropical Pacific has created a storm circulation that draws colder air from Alaska and Canada to mix with moisture off the North Pacific Ocean.

Another storm that will mainly hit far Eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle is expected Wednesday night through Thursday night, with another 2.5 inches in Spokane and nearly 5 inches in Pullman.