Coeur d'Alene Winters (Post Falls: house, closing, living)

[MamasGirl143]

Hello. I have been reading this site for months now and have gotten tons of useful information. I have a couple of questions regarding the winters in Coeur d' Alene. We just got back from a visit there. It is absolutely beautiful and it seemed like everyone we talked to said that the winters really were not all that bad. But I have read several things online that say they are rough. I am just wondering what you all think? Is it extremely gray and foggy for days on end? Are the roads icy and unsafe to drive? Does the amount of snowfall disrupt daily life? Thanks in advance!
Sue

[Sage of Sagle]

I think it's pretty nice in this area. Gray and foggy and cold? Sure, but that's winter. And it's not bad, but the LONG nights bother some people. When it gets dark by mid-afternoon, a sun lamp in your living room is a nice idea.

The roads are good. Studded tires, or siped tires, is a good thing. Or 4wd. Subaru is certainly a good choice.

The amount of daily snowfall isn't a problem. If you're in town in CdA, just get on it early and often. Or if you're outside town, get a 4wd with a plow, or a plow attachment for your tractor or utility vehicle/ATV.

Ice and freezing/deep mud are a part of daily life here. Embrace it, and it won't bug you.

[ZenPC]

Winters in CDA aren't that bad at all! But then again, I've only been here 4 years....*knock on wood*. The only complaint I have is that they don't salt the roads! That seems insane for me, coming from Boston where they salt EVERYTHING. Sure, it's bad for the cars, but it sure would prevent a whole lot of fender benders from the slippery patches of ice out there.


-Regards-
Kevin
ZenPC Services

[lubner]

I've been up here for 10 years now and the winters are cold, snowy, grey. But, the snow is pretty and it is North Idaho. I find that I get a lot more depressed during Feb. & March than I ever did in CA, so I need to look into a sun lamp, have heard that helps a lot. I for one, am very glad they don't salt the roads, really don't need to the weather is not that severe and it saves the cars from rusting. Just keep in mind that you have to drive A LOT slower and get the proper tires/car and you will be fine.

[6thgen]

I've lived in the CDA area all my life, my family has been here 6 generations...we haven't had a really bad winter since around '01. In fact, this last winter was one of the worst we've had since then, and it wasn't even that bad. All I have to say is that if the winters return to how they used to be, all the people moving in who are not used to snow are in for a rude awakening!

With that said, I agree, if you drive a speed appropriate for the conditions (slow the heck down lol) you should be fine. You can also get studded or siped tires, that'll help some! It is cloudy and miserable during the winter months, and temps can be relatively unpredictable even through this time of year.

[Bellstarr2007]

[quote=6thgen;675137] All I have to say is that if the winters return to how they used to be, all the people moving in who are not used to snow are in for a rude awakening!

I'm not sure I understand this if the winters aren't usually bad. I'm also trying to find out about the severity of the winter months there. Can you explain? Thanks!

[ejay]

This year is bad. Last year was bad. What I mean by bad is. Go find a road that is dirt and full of washboards and by washboards I mean bumpy with holes in it. Now drive on that road as fast as you dare. Then add some ice and light snow to the mix and bad snow plowing with a mix of new unexperienced drivers in the snow. Welcome to my daily commute the last three weeks. You will have to shovel and live in the snow. You will have to dig out your driveway when the snow plow goes by five mins before you are ready to leave the house to goto work. And you will get stuck because you think you can break thru it with your car and shovel it later. After shoveling your driveway and digging your car out. You will get to drive on said roads at maybe 25mph as you slip and slide to work. You will need to make sure that you have all the things you need to take care of yourself incase you slide off the road and no one finds you. Living up here in the winter makes you think about things like that. You have to be ready to do those things in the winter if you live here. Everyone does it it's the price you pay to live in such beauty....

[pacalady]

This winter has EVERYONE on edge a bit ....and getting testy! The snow fall has broken ALL records with not only depth, but the blowing and drifting....closing of some roads at times.

And yes there has been the national news about all the roofs collapsing! (Spokane)

Shoot, here in Post Falls we had two days during the really bad weather that we didn't have mail service!

Challenging? YES! Tolerable YES! If you are equipped for winter, you will be fine! Just be a good Scout (Boy Scout or Girl Scout) and be prepared!!! You will be fine!

For us: The snow is beautiful, but with 20 alpacas to feed, it was absolutely a challenge to shovel/dig/plow and snow blow every day! The challenge was met, and we were rewarded with happy alpacas and one day found 3 moose in the 300 acre farm to our north one morning ....comfortably laying down in the snow until the evening when they moved on. Couple days later we had 8 elk in that same field ....also resting from their journey.

Now just a few days later the main roads are clear; the days are getting noticably longer with daylight, and YES I agree, a sun-lamp is a good thing (especially since I lived in Fairbanks AK for 4 years!!!)

Usually about mid Feb I have crocus popping up out of my flower beds; by March the daffodils are poking their heads out. The robins have returned to their nests in the barn and tractor shed, and the trees are starting to bud.....

By then I'm getting pretty antsy to get my vegetable garden going (having had 3 months to peruse the seed catalogs and plan for the coming season....

YUP! Life is good in Post Falls!!!

Here's a photo of "Cinnabar" cathching snowflakes ... hope this makes you smile as much as it does me!!!

PacaLady