The weekend snow storm that hit the Spokane region January 26-27, 2008, broke a record: 13.7 inches of snow was recorded at the Spokane International Airport between noon Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday -- the biggest 24-hour snowfall to hit the area since January 1950, when we received 13 inches of snow. Other areas in the region actually got more than 13.7 inches. The National Weather Service in Airway Heights recorded 14.6 inches, and the most snow reported was 17 inches on Spokane's South Hill.

If you think the Spokane area snow totals are impressive, then you haven't visited Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, lately. The Lake City has recorded 127 inches of the white stuff this winter through Tuesday, February 5, breaking a record that dates back to the winter of 1915-16 when they received 124.2 inches of snow. For Spokane, we've received about 70 inches of snow this winter, but that's nowhere near the record 93.5 inches that fell during the winter of 1949-50.

For some, the snow has become a frustration and for others, it's a true source of fun. Those having fun include area school kids, most of whom have had "snow days" off from classes due to widespread school closures. Fun, that is, until they have to make up the time in the middle of June.

Booming sales for local hardware stores are making business owners in the area happy, but the heavy snow is causing headaches for street crews and law enforcement. Area ski resorts must consider the snow a blessing -- skiing in new powder nearly every day isn't the norm here. On the frustrating side, though, there's a lot of snow blowing and grading that needs to be done to keep the resort parking lots and service buildings open and available to potential customers. Then, too, those mountain roads have to be plowed so customers can get to the resorts.

If we polled drivers in the area, the majority would probably agree that all this snow and ice is frustrating when it comes to daily work commutes, running errands and dodging ever-growing potholes in the roads. For those who have had the misfortune of being in an accident this winter (and there have been many!), you have to add in the frustrations of dealing with insurance companies, auto mechanics, and auto body shops -- all in an effort to get their vehicles back in running order.

How about you? Are you finding all this snow FUN or FRUSTRATING? We've listed a few things below in each category, but we'd like to hear from you. So, email us and we'll post your comments on Spokane.net. If you don't have time to write, then be sure to vote in our PulsePoll.

FUN things about the snow

• Building snowmen and snow forts
• Skiing in new powder
• Snow hanging in trees
• Sledding and snowmobiling -- on local streets
• Snow days when schools close
• Having snowball fights and not running out of ammo
• Selling every snowblower in stock
• Setting new records for snowfall in the region

FRUSTRATING things about the snow

• Snow melting, refreezing and turning to ice
• Snow-covered sidewalks on public streets
• Driving in it
• Shoveling it -- and finding room to put it
• Being a grown-up and NOT getting snow days from work
• Finding someone to watch the kids when schools are closed
• Avalanches in the mountain passes
• Digging out after the snowplows hit residential streets

From the Editor
Editor@Spokane.net