COEUR d'ALENE - Almost 3 inches of snow had fallen by the close of business on Friday, causing dozens of traffic accidents across North Idaho.

The National Weather Service upgraded a winter storm advisory to a winter storm warning Friday afternoon through midnight, as several more inches were expected to fall.

Theresa Baker, public information officer for the Idaho State Police, said as of Friday afternoon, ISP troopers responded to 21 accidents on North Idaho highways and freeways.

"Dispatchers were too busy to count all the slide-offs," Baker said from ISP headquarters in Meridian. "Evidently, you people need to slow down up there."

The Coeur d'Alene Police Department responded to 14 accidents within the city limits, according to Sgt. Christie Wood.

"It's the first snowfall of significance, so they were pretty busy (Friday)," Wood said, adding driving conditions were hazardous.

"People need to monitor their speeds and drive safely," she said.

The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office was also busy, according to Lt. Stu Miller. He said they responded to 20 crashes, but some of those were in the city of Coeur d'Alene.

"Slow down, and increase following distance. Turn on your headlights and clear your windows of all the snow and ice," Miller said. "Another little note, leave early so you don't have to rush to get there - plan for a slow commute, patience goes a long way to not being involved in a collision."

Miller said watch out in the back country.

"Even though the snow is only a few inches in town, the mountains have much more and it is accumulating quickly," he said. "If venturing into the back country, be prepared. Extra water, food, warm clothing, boots, etc. and tell someone where you are going and when you will be back."

The Spokane County Sheriff's Office issued a press release calling on residents to stay off the roads if at all possible.

Joey Clevenger, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Spokane, said there is a 30 percent chance of snow today after 10 a.m. but very little, if any, is expected.

By Monday, temperatures are expected to rise again.

"We are expecting warmer temperatures, and definitely some rain," he said. "The question is, will there be enough rain to melt all of the snow?"

On Tuesday the temperature will start dropping below freezing again, and on Christmas Day, the temperature should be around 30 and partly sunny.

"There still may be some snow on the ground," Clevenger said. "But there is not going to be a lot of it."