Weather

Remember to keep your pets safe as weather warms

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Tuesday, May 7th, 5:07 pm

Spring is finally here and Summer is just around the corner, and with the onset of warm weather across the region Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service reminds us to keep our pets safe in the heat.

"Every summer, we respond to calls of animals being left in cars," says Nancy Hill, Director of SCRAPS. "Inside a car, the temperature will rapidly increase and can overwhelm a pet in a very short time period - sometimes with fatal consequences."

If you typically bring your dog or other pets along for the car ride consider leaving them home when temperatures rise. Dogs aren't able to sweat to cool themselves down so it doesn't take much for them to overheat. Cracking a window while you run into the store isn't enough to keep them healthy.

"The temperature outside doesn't have to be in the 90's or more for a problem to exist," says Hill, "On a 78 degree day, temperatures in a car parked in the shade can exceed 90 degrees, and hit a scorching 160 degree if parked in the sun."

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Ecology issues burn ban for Stevens County

Submitted by Jacob Palmer on Friday, January 18th, 5:37 pm

From the Washington Department of Ecology:

The Washington Department of Ecology has issued a Stage 1 burn ban in Stevens County. The ban takes effect immediately.

Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for Stevens County will continue until at least 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, when it could be extended or called off. A Stage 1 ban applies to the use of uncertified wood-burning devices (including wood stoves, inserts and fireplaces) and to all outdoor burning.

Ecology’s burn bans do not apply on tribal reservations, where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has jurisdiction.

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PETA offers tips for pet care in heavy snow

Submitted by Jacob Palmer on Monday, January 7th, 12:05 pm

There are several things to consider when Mother Nature dumps a half-foot of snow on the area.

PETA sent out several tips Monday for pet owners and animal-conscious citizens, because “dogs and other animals can suffer from frostbite and exposure, and they can become dehydrated when water sources freeze.”

Here are some of PETA's tips:

Keep animals indoors. This is absolutely critical when it comes to puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman pinschers. Short-haired animals will also benefit from a warm sweater or a coat on walks.

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Local ski resorts all hoping to open this weekend

Submitted by Jerry Post, News Director

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012, 2:40pm

Local ski resorts all hoping to open this weekend

The smell of turkey and stuffing is in the air, and that means the ski and snowboard season is nearly upon us. Interested in hitting the slopes this holiday weekend? It’s still a little touch and go. At least one local resort will DEFINITELY be open this weekend; others are just waiting to see how much snow falls over the next 48 hours. Here’s the latest, as of Wednesday afternoon:

SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN RESORT: OPENS SATURDAY, NOV. 24th. Schweitzer’s website says “The current plan is to run Musical Chairs and the Basin Express lifts from 9am-3:30pm. Lift tickets will be $40. Sunday-Friday Season Passes will be valid on Saturday. There will be some features set up in the Terrain Garden. Busing and Parking will be free this weekend. The shuttle will run on the mid-week schedule.“

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High winds recorded throughout Inland Northwest

Submitted by Nicole Hensley, Web Producer

Thursday, September 6th, 2012, 10:31am

High winds were recorded in parts of the Inland Northwest on Wednesday evening due to a northern cold front. There was a high impact to regions with south oriented ridges and valleys according to the National Weather Service.

NWS meteorologist Paul Bos says last night’s weather was a classic pattern of winds.

“The real kicker it looks like - we had quite a bit of terrain channeling,” Bos said. “We we cool off at night, we set up inversions - all those winds go through narrow areas. There’s not a lot of room through there and they’re going to accelerate.”

A wind advisory was issued just after 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday saying winds were expected around Bonners Ferry Sandpoint, advising drivers of gusty winds.

High impact areas included Bonners Ferry who recorded the highest gusts of 51 mph and Coeur d’Alene Airport at 44 mph. Winds at Spokane International Airport were recorded at 38 mph.

Power outages were also reported throughout the region, knocking out the power for over a 1,000 homes in Chewelah, Wash. and more than 600 homes in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Avista restored power for the majority of those residents overnight.

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"Blue moon" scheduled for Friday evening

Submitted by Nicole Hensley, Web Producer

Monday, August 27th, 2012, 4:27pm

"Blue moon" scheduled for Friday evening

Strange things always seem to happen on full moons, but what about an additional full moon on the same month? That's called a blue moon. Sorry to disappoint you, but technically - it's not blue.

Because lunar events are not aligned with our calendar months, sometimes the 29.5 cycle resets. We already had a pre-funk earlier this month, a full moon on August 1. History is now is repeating itself this Friday, August 31.

It will be awhile the next time you see two full moons in the same month. You'll have to wait until July 2015. The skies are expected to be clear, so don't stand alone this Friday. Grab a love of your own and check out the night sky.

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Disaster services offered to Ferry County following storm

Submitted by Nicole Hensley, Web Producer

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012, 5:12pm

Following last week’s severe weather that ripped through the Inland Northwest, 16 counties have been declared a state of emergency by Gov. Christine Gregoire. Ferry County was one of the hardest hit with strong winds and heavy rain.

State Emergency Operations based at Camp Murray issued an update saying they’re still working on responding to the extensive storm damage in the county and on the Colville Indian Reservation.

Many services will be supporting the Colville Tribes following the storm. The reservation will be receiving four sets of road crew flags and a mobile laundry unit to be based in Keller. The Department of Social and Health Services will also be supplying mental health support for those that need it.

The American Red Cross is also on their way to Ferry County with six volunteers to open a shelter in Republic High School. The shelter will provide mental health services and disaster assessment.

According to spotter reports from the National Weather Service, strong winds brought down several trees on Friday evening, including a 50-year-old pine. Those winds also stirred up two to four foot waves on Lake Curlew.

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