Friday, October 23, 2026
46.0°F

What a mess

BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 9 months AGO
by BILL BULEY
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | December 28, 2022 1:09 AM

COEUR d'ALENE — The rain that came down Monday and Tuesday turned what had been a winter wonderland into slushy streets fed by rapidly melting snow.

Combine that with a record 50 consecutive days of temperatures under 40 degrees, snapped by a heatwave of 45 degrees Tuesday, and you've got people questioning why they ever moved to Coeur d'Alene.

Climatologist Cliff Harris said a recent transplant told him they were returning to Scottsdale, Ariz.

"They're had enough of this," he said.

It has rained 32.34 inches in Coeur d'Alene this year, about 5 inches above normal.

It rained about half an inch Monday and Tuesday.

There were no reports of serious flooding, but the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office said it was monitoring the Coeur d'Alene River in Cataldo and other common flooding areas.

"There's a lot of water," Harris said. "I warned everybody about that."

He said doesn't expect another significant snowfall until the Jan. 7 weekend. That happens to be the date of the "Let It Snow" promotion by Clark’s Diamond Jewelers on Sherman Avenue.

If it snows at least 5 inches at the Spokane International Airport on Jan. 7, all purchases at Clark’s between Nov. 19 and Dec. 31 will be refunded.

It could happen, Harris said, but Spokane generally receives less snow than Coeur d'Alene.

"We'll see," he said.

photo

BILL BULEY/Press

A UPS truck makes its way along a slushy 19th Street in Coeur d'Alene on Tuesday.

ARTICLES BY BILL BULEY

Kootenai County named American World War II Heritage City
October 17, 2026 1:09 a.m.

Kootenai County named American World War II Heritage City

Kootenai County named American World War II Heritage City

Where History Still Salutes: Kootenai County Named WWII Heritage City

Monday Night Dinner finale on Saturday
October 16, 2026 1 a.m.

Monday Night Dinner finale on Saturday

Schluter says it will be a gathering of laughs and love a day after he gets hitched
Rusk unveils economic initiative
October 14, 2026 1:08 a.m.

Rusk unveils economic initiative

CDAEDC leader calls on community to help shape North Idaho's future