Pat Papineau has been hoping for a good snowstorm in Coeur d’Alene. 

Friday morning, she got her wish. 

“I love it,” Papineau said as she and her dog, Joe Vandal, stood near Tubbs Hill. “I’ve been waiting all winter for it.” 

Papineau grew up in Spokane, is used to snow and loves going for walks in it. With little falling this season, just 20 inches in Coeur d’Alene, she’s been disappointed. 

But Friday, she was delighted when she looked out the window and saw snowflakes streaming down, creating a winter wonderland. 

“This is normal,” she said. “It's just beautiful." 

Likewise for Mike and Debi Moseley as they walked with their Yorkie, Anya, also wearing a coat, by the Fort Grounds neighborhood. 

“She loves the snow. She doesn’t like the heat,” Debi said of little Anya. 

The Moseleys have also been missing the snow this winter and with spring just around the corner and 60 degrees forecast for next week, they wondered if it might be getting too late for it to make a final appearance. 

They were pleased to see it wasn't.

“I’ve been waiting for this since January,” Debi said.  

Her fear now is that, of course, it will soon warm up, ‘and it’s going to all melt.” 

Mike told her not to worry. 

“Just enjoy it while it’s here,” he said. 

It started snowing early Friday and continued into the evening. About 6 inches fell in Coeur d’Alene, with more in surrounding areas. That brings Coeur d’Alene to 26.9 inches this season, well below the normal snowfall of 64 inches at this time of the year. 

The winter blast gave skiers something to be excited for as the resorts reported some of the strongest snow of the season, with more on the way.   

Snowpack at Lookout Pass reached 45 inches Friday with 9 inches falling in the past 24 hours. Winter storms are expected to continue bringing heavy snow to the region. Forecasters expect up to 27 additional inches over the next five days, with temperatures hovering in the mid-30s, creating ideal conditions for snow sports enthusiasts.   

After the recent windstorm knocked power out at Lookout, general manager Brian Rosser took to the hillsides in a groomer and gave an update on the weather developments on the mountain.   

“The good news is, power is back on, and it’s currently snowing,” Rosser said. “Mountain operations teams are working hard.”   

At Silver Mountain, snowpack measured 25 inches midweek, with light snow and up to 10 inches forecast through early next week as temperatures remain in the low 20s. Cloudy skies and intermittent snowfall are expected to persist. 

At lower elevations, the downfall brought out shovelers, sledders and snowplows, perhaps for a last hurrah this season. 

Eric York was smiling as he cleared a path near his Sanders Beach home. 

“Heaven sent,” he said. “I’m doing the snow dance.” 

While highways in North Idaho were generally clear and wet as it warmed up, not so in Washington. Interstate 90 from North Bend to Ellensburg was expected to remain closed overnight due to severe snow and ice, creating treacherous driving conditions, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.  

Papineau said she and her canine companion will be in today’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade that begins at 3 p.m. in downtown Coeur d’Alene. It could be snowing, with an inch or so in the forecast.

She said the 4-year-old Golden Retriever was raised around the beaches in Tillamook, Ore., and loved chasing seagulls.

“But when we came up here with the turkeys and the deer and the dogs, he had to have training,” she said. “Now, he loves the snow."

• • •

Staff writer Josh McDonald contributed to this story.

    Eric York shovels snow with a smile near his Coeur d'Alene home on Friday morning.
  

    "The Suffragist" statue by McEuen Park is covered with snow Friday morning.
  

    Canada geese float along the shoreline at Coeur d'Alene City Beach during Friday morning's snowfall.
  

    Pat Papineau and her dog Joe Vandal take a walking break in the snow near the Museum of North Idaho on Friday morning.