Better safe than sorry

Local first responders and state agencies are reminding people to travel with caution as winter weather hazards could occur at any time, although North Idaho isn't due for a snowstorm quite yet. 

The National Weather Service is forecasting clear and sunny days with patchy, freezing fog in the mornings and at night. High temperatures will hover around 40 degrees with lows in the low- to mid-20s. A 10% chance of snow is expected Thursday.

Daniel Butler, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Spokane, said the rest of November is looking fairly dry.

"As we get into the beginning of December, next weekend, the chances for snow start to increase, but it doesn't look like a huge winter storm or anything,” he said Friday.

Any snow that falls Thursday is not expected to stick, he said.

"Outside of seven days is a bit too hard to tell if there will be a very impactful system that moves through because of all the chaos in the atmosphere," Butler said. "Next weekend, we’re keeping an eye out for potential snow."

North Lakes Fire District Deputy Marshal Chris Larson said that when the snow does fly, drivers should pay close attention to hazards in areas such as State Highway 41 north of Rathdrum or U.S. Highway 95 through Garwood.

“We tend to get snow in town that may not stick, but it’ll all of a sudden start sticking in those areas,” Larson said. “People will have slide-outs when they drive too fast for the conditions. People get too confident driving through town, and then they run into issues driving up the road where it’s more rural.” 

Sleet in Coeur d’Alene and Hayden can quickly turn into snow at Garwood, Twin Lakes, Athol or Spirit Lake.

Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Chris Way said the first significant calls his agency receives when there is a snowstorm are on Interstate 90. 

“We also see it in areas that don’t get maintenance, so south of the river in Post Falls," Way said. 

Open space across the prairie can pose a winter driving threat along Prairie and Hayden avenues and Lancaster Road, Larson said. Drifting snow and ice can intermittently build up along the open roads and often cause people to lose control. 

Larson asked that people watch for drivers sliding through intersections with two-way stops, where ice may prevent a clean stop behind the line. Slow down in advance of a roundabout, he said. While roundabouts reduce T-bone and head-on vehicle collisions, they can lead to rear-end collisions if people don’t slow down fast enough in winter conditions. 

“People tend to drive and come into them too quickly, hit their breaks and slide through,” Larson said. 

It’s also common for people to forget to secure children's car seats and loose items during the holiday bustle, Larson said. People load up with gifts and groceries and may need to transfer car seats to other vehicles. A car seat that is the improper fit for a child's size also poses a health and safety risk in a slide-out, Larson said. 

Through the winter, Idaho State Police and participating law enforcement agencies will conduct a statewide emphasis on seat belts and impaired driving violations, according to a Nov. 20 joint news release from the Idaho Transportation Department and Idaho State Police.

The Idaho Transportation Department's Office of Highway Safety pledged increased funding to support local law enforcement in enforcing seat belt violations. Collision data between 2015 and 2019 revealed that over half the occupants killed in vehicle crashes in Idaho were not wearing seat belts.

Winter weather also has a direct impact on the number of crashes in Idaho. Statewide, more than 16,000 wrecks occurred during inclement weather between Oct. 1, 2021, and April 30, 2022, with many attributed to unsafe driving in snow, ice and wet conditions.

Drivers should share travel plans with loved ones and friends, Larson said, especially if driving through areas without cell service. Plan to check in upon arrival. 

It's important to let people know planned routes for road trips, Larson said. Don't depend exclusively on Google Maps, which can lead drivers up gravel roads in snowstorms, he said. Also check weather conditions when going through the passes, including Fourth of July, Lookout and Snoqualmie. Weather reports and webcams also help drivers stay up to date on closures.

A key tip both Larson and Way emphasized is not to rush. 

“Before you go to work, make sure you scrape the ice and have great visibility,” Larson said. “Make sure you have clear vision as you’re driving. This would be a good time to change your windshield wipers.”

Plan ahead when starting the work day, Larson said. Scraping ice can take a few minutes. Planning for it the night before will help reduce the rush. 

“Slow down, take your time, don’t follow too closely, no cruise control and wear your seat belt,” Way said.

Here are a few other safe driving tips from the Idaho Transportation Department and Idaho State Police:

Adjust to the present driving condition

• Reduce speed and drive at a safe pace.

• Avoid driving into a storm; find a safe place off the road and wait.

• Stay in the vehicle until visibility improves, even if a wreck occurs.

• Increase following distance.

• Exercise caution around stopped or slow-moving vehicles.

• Only pass or change lanes when necessary.

Prepare vehicles

• Ensure gas tanks and windshield washer fluid reservoirs are full. 

• Equip vehicles with all-season or studded snow tires.

• Carry chains, tow ropes, cat litter or cardboard for emergency traction.

• Have blankets, warm clothing, shovels, jumper cables and windshield scrapers on hand.

• Prepare a first aid kit with a knife, flashlight with extra batteries, non-perishable food, bottled water and cell phone charger.

Avoid distractions

• Stay focused on the road and remain vigilant for potential road hazards like animals and trees.

• Take necessary breaks to combat fatigue.

• Be mindful of hidden dangers like icy overpasses and bridges, open-ground blizzards, hills, stoplights, signs and ruts that may collect water.

The Idaho Transportation Department deploys over 550 snowplow operators to clear over 3.4 million miles throughout Idaho each year. To ensure their safety, give snowplows ample space to work. The best roadway is a safe distance behind a working plow. Never pass on the right.

Info: weather.gov

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Devin Weeks contributed to this story.