This snow is going to blow

A frigid winter storm swooped into the Coeur d’Alene area early Friday bringing with it wind-whipped snow drifts, treacherous driving conditions and wind chill values dipping below zero.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for the region Friday afternoon, with an additional 2 to 4 inches of snow accumulation expected through early Sunday along with possible wind gusts of up to 40 or 50 mph.

“Blowing snow will have the potential to produce poor visibility and snow drifts on the West Plains (near Spokane), the Rathdrum Prairie and around Post Falls on Saturday,” said the advisory.

Today’s high temperature is expected to be in the low teens with a wind chill value that could drop to 10 below zero.

The Kootenai County Office of Emergency Management is reminding residents to be ready for power outages and other potentially dangerous situations that may arise from winter storms.

“Make sure that you have a 72-hour preparedness kit at home and one in your vehicle,” said a news release.

The OEM is recommending these kits include food, water, first aid items, flashlights, batteries, a battery-powered radio, blankets and warm clothing including hats, boots and gloves.

People are also reminded to check on neighbors and ensure their pets have food and shelter.

Motorists who must travel are advised to call 511 for information on the most recent road conditions.

Lingering snow is expected for the early part of next week with highs in the mid-20s and lows in the teens, according to the Weather Service. Accumulations are expected to be less than a half-inch.

For more information on winter storms visit http://oem.kcgov.us or www.ready.gov.