County urging residents to protect roofs from collapse

SANDPOINT - Bonner County public safety officials are advising residents to keep a close eye on their roofs and consider shoveling them due to weather forecasts which predict warmer temperatures and more precipitation in the next few days.

Bonner County Emergency Management Director Bob Howard said the foot or more of snow already on roofs throughout the area could become a problem if the forecasts hold true. The recently fallen snow has been light and dry, but Howard said its composition could change if the moisture content is increased.

"That will make our light, fluffy snow pretty heavy," Howard warned on Wednesday.

The National Weather Service in Spokane, Wash., issued a winter storm warning on Wednesday. It's in effect until 4 p.m. on Thursday. Total snow accumulations could range from 8 to 20 inches.

Temperatures are forecasted to reach above freezing by the end of the week, according to the weather service.

"With the potential warming trends, heavy and wetter snow and possibly even rain, it's going get heavy pretty fast," said Howard.

Last winter, Bonner County declared a state of emergency because of record snowfall, which collapsed a number of roofs and clogged city streets and county roads. The Idaho National Guard was ultimately called in to help clear snow.