SNOW AT LAST?A winter storm warning is in effect until 11 p.m. Wednesday, with as much as 5 to 10 inches of snow expected in parts of the Treasure Valley.GOOD NEWS FOR SKI RESORTSValerie Mills, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boise, said Bogus Basin could finally get serious winter snow. Brundage and Tamarack were also expected to get snow.At 5 p.m. Tuesday, Brun­dage Ski Resort in McCall was reporting about a foot of new snow. Bogus Basin had a fresh inch of snow, a nice change of weather pace for the yet-to-open ski area that has been skunked by Mother Nature this winter. Bogus could get as much as 3 feet of snow in the next three days, forecasters said. PREPARING HIGHWAYS FOR SNOWIdaho Transportation Department crews will apply de-icer to the interstate and state highways, and its snowplows are ready to remove any accumulation, spokes­man Mel Coulter said. Sanding material is ready to go.“Our equipment operators are either on the road now or preparing for the arrival of real winter,” he said. “We will have crews out long before dawn.”Coulter advised drivers to call the state’s road information line at 511 or check ITD’s website and carry a emergency supplies.It usually takes one winter storm to remind people of what they need to do to drive safely, Coulter said. “Be careful, slow down and drive appropriately for conditions,” Coulter said. “Especially on the interstate, look out for slow-moving trailers and semis that have chained up or are chaining up and driving slower than usual.”ADVANCE DE-ICINGTuesday afternoon, the Ada County Highway District had 35 trucks applying de-icer as a “pre-treatment,” said spokeswoman Christine Myron.Getting de-icer on the roads before the Tuesday evening commute allowed the rush-hour traffic to help spread it over the road before the snow starts falling.Crews were also attaching plows to trucks and will have sand and de-icer trucks ready Wednesday.Drivers should leave early to give themselves plenty of time to safely arrive at their destinations.“If they encounter our trucks on the road, we hope they will be patient and give those truck drivers extra room so they can do their job safely,” Myron said.TRAVELERS, BE READY ‘FOR ANYTHING’“As far as I know we are ready,” said Boise Airport spokeswoman Patti Miller. “The airlines are prepared. We’ve got their folks ready to whatever needs to be done.”Miller said people should check ahead on arrivals and departures, and arrive at least 90 minutes early for any outgoing flights.Travelers to the Seattle area could face another major storm, expected to hit there Wednesday morning and bring up to 10 inches of snow. A few inches fell Tuesday. That storm will bring snow to Portland and the Columbia River Gorge.SNOW DAY FOR STUDENTS?Meridian district officials are ready if roads are snowy. Officials will check conditions from 4 to 5 a.m., looking at snowfall, roads, accumulation and wind drifts, said spokesman Eric Exline, then decide whether to close schools.That decision is sent to local media and put on the website, he said.“We don’t dismiss early,” Exline said. “We can’t send young elementary kids home before normal hours.”The Boise district lists its snow-day protocol on its website. “Stay tuned to local news, TV, media and radio,” said spokesman Dan Hollar. If there’s nothing in the news or on the district website, school is on.Kathleen Kreller: 377-6418