Snow day!
(CRAIG NORTHRUP/Press) The McFadden brothers — 12-year-old Marcus (left) and nine-year-old Shane — head home after a morning shoveling snow. The Presidents' Day holiday kept schools closed, but kids were out in force Monday to make the most of the snow day.
(CRAIG NORTHRUP/Press) The McFadden brothers — 12-year-old Marcus (left) and nine-year-old Shane — head home after a morning shoveling snow. The Presidents' Day holiday kept schools closed, but kids were out in force Monday to make the most of the snow day.
Leandra Bojorquiz comforts her daughter, Parker, during her first sledding trip. “We haven’t been able to do this because there hasn’t been snow this year,” the Coeur d'Alene resident said.
Dylan Ogle of Coeur d'Alene picked up an extra hat on the way down Cherry Hill Monday. Locals flocked to the popular hill as up to four inches fell over the area.
Roger Hance and his three-year-old daughter, Savannah, take a turn down Cherry Hill Monday. One of the lone snowstorms of the winter gave Savannah her first opportunity to go sledding. "She's not totally sure about it," Hance said.
Monday’s snowfall was, for many Coeur d’Alene residents, a perfect storm.
With the Presidents Day holiday closing schools and many businesses, the heaviest precipitation of the new year gave locals a chance to enjoy what might be the last significant snowfall of the winter months.
“Kids and snow,” Dylan Ogle of Coeur d’Alene said after taking a sledding run down Cherry Hill Monday, along with his son and nephew. “Our kid’s only 16 months [old]. He doesn’t like it very much.”
The parking lot at Cherry Hill was two-thirds full before noon. Kids and their parents alike hit the popular sledding hill for one of its busiest days of the year, particularly considering the relatively mild winter in Kootenai County’s rearview mirror.
“We haven’t had the snow forever, so finally, we got snow,” said Roger Hance of Coeur d’Alene, alongside his 3-year-old daughter, Savannah. “It’s been a first for us. She’s not totally sure about it.”
Leandra Bojorquiz of Coeur d’Alene concurred, her 18-month-old walking hand-in-hand.
“We haven’t been able to do this because there hasn’t been snow this year,” said Bojorquiz, her rosy-cheeked daughter Parker crying alongside.
While the number of February first-time sledders per capita — infant or otherwise — can often gauge the amount of snow days over the winter, more scientific models are necessary to forecast the future — and update them as necessary.
The National Weather Service originally kept most of Kootenai County under a Winter Storm Warning through 4 p.m., but by mid-day, the service extended that warning to 10 p.m, with snow potentially continuing into this morning. A total of 4 inches was expected by the time the system passes.
But Monday wasn’t all play, even for those with the day off. More industrious children took the sparse opportunity to capitalize on the storm, shoveling snow from driveways for a few bucks. Two brothers — Marcus and Shane McFadden — were spotted trudging down Reed Road in Hayden, headed home after a quick morning shoveling snow.
“We’re snow shoveling for some money,” 9-year-old Shane announced.
“We just did one driveway,” 12-year-old Marcus said. “We’re going to end the business soon. We don’t want the business to get too big.”
The timing of the McFadden business plan might be perfect. Monday’s storm isn’t the last expected snowfall of the year or even the week: Light snow showers are expected Thursday and Friday. But the National Weather Service is expecting temperatures to rise, with highs in the upper 30s Friday gradually climbing to the mid-40s by the middle of next week. With March fast-approaching, Monday’s storm could quite possibly be the last significant snowfall of the winter.
