Aidan Brezonick-KTVB

Some Boiseans spent part of their day shoveling snow after a winter storm dumped four inches of snow on the valley Saturday.

BOISE -- A powerful winter storm smacks the Treasure Valley with another four inches of snow.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory that remains in effect until 11 p.m. Saturday. More snow and blowing snow will make it difficult for traveling.

The snow will continue into the evening before eventually changing to rain around midnight. There could also be sleet mixed in this evening. Up to five inches of snow is expect in the valley today and up to eight inches in the foothills. Wind gusts of up to 30 miles per hour are expected out of the southeast. That will cause areas of blowing and drifting snow and reduced visibilty.

There is also a winter storm warning in effect until 5 p.m. Sunday for the west-central and Boise mountains. Snowfall is expected to accumulate eight to 15 inches in these areas. There will also be areas of blowing and drifting snow and reduced visibility. Snow may mix with or change to rain the the lowest valleys on Sunday. The snow is expected to taper off Sunday. Travel should only be in an emergency. If you must travel, have a flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of emergency.

Driving conditions treacherous

So far, this has been the third snowiest December on record in Boise. The National Weather Service says Boise has received 19.5 inches to date and the snow continues to fall. Six inches of snowfall is a normal December in Boise. We have surpassed the third snowiest December which was 19.4 inches in 1924. However, there is a long way to go to reach the record. In 1983, Boise got 26.2 inches in December and the record was set in 1884 with 36.6 inches of snow.

Driving conditions on area roads remain hazardous. Most of them are covered in snow and that has proven to be very misleading to drivers!

Idaho State Police dispatchers say troopers in the field were reporting that many people were driving too fast for the conditions because they didn't realize beneath the snow was a sheet of ice, and that's the case in most areas!

Dispatchers say troopers responded to a steady stream of rollovers and slide-offs all day but fortunately there are no major injuries to report.

On interstate 84 in Elmore County, slick roads caused a pile up involving five cars. ISP says there were no major injuries.

The Idaho Transportation Department's 5-1-1 information line is reporting that roads across most of the area are wet and icy with light snow.

If you don't have to be out on the roads, motorists are advised to stay home.

The snow has built up on roadways across the area and for the most part it is ice underneath.

There is some good news for travelers. Interstate 84 from the I-86 junction to the Utah state line is open today. The highway was closed Monday, reopened Wednesday and closed again on Christmas.

With more snow in the forecast, motorists are advised to check the latest road reports before heading out. 

In eastern Oregon, blizzard like conditions have forced numerous road closures. Interstate 84 is now closed between Pendleton and Ontario. I-84 is closed westbound between Ontario and La Grande and eastbound between Pendleton and Ontario.

And for folks flying home on this busy holiday weekend, there are no problems to report at the Boise Airport right now. Officials say all arrivals are listed as on time and there have been no problems with departure delays. Runways are being cleared of snow.