Harsh Winter Wreaking Havoc on Spokane, Wash.

More than 6 feet of snow in the past three weeks has left Spokane residents frustrated. Tempers are so frayed that a man was arrested for shooting at a snow plow operator.

This unusually harsh winter has disrupted schools, traffic, garbage pickup and mail service in the city of 200,000.

Roofs are collapsing, streets are clogged with ice and slush and locals are starting to refer to this as Sno-maggedon.

Even visitors are impressed.

"This is the most snow I've ever seen," Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt said when her team played at Gonzaga University on Dec. 30. "It's beautiful."

Spokane has received more than 78 inches of snow; about the height of Michael Jordan; since mid-December. That's far above its average of less than 50 inches for an entire winter. Normally about 16 inches would have fallen at this point.

The local record for an entire winter is 93.5 inches set in 1949-50. That is likely to be shattered soon.

Related

Cold Lang Syne: Revelers Prepare for a Frigid New Year's Eve

Avalanche Danger Rises Around West

White X-Mas Means Less Green for Retailers

As many as 200 members of the Washington National Guard were being dispatched to the Spokane area to help with snow removal Wednesday, particularly on school rooftops, Laura Lockard, a spokeswoman for Gov. Chris Gregoire, said Tuesday.

Snow rage is getting to some.

One man was arrested by Spokane police after gunshots were fired Monday morning at a private snow plow operator who was clearing a parking lot. Police said the motorist apparently got upset when the plow operator honked his horn.

"It's safe to say that fuses are short, people are frustrated and we are having an increase in neighborhood disputes regarding snow-related issues," said Jennifer DeRuwe, a police spokeswoman.

Hot lines at Spokane Mental Health are getting twice the number of calls from people seeking help, said Staci Cornwell of the agency. Some are from elderly people who need help picking up medications, or with shoveling. Other callers are just agitated.

"In our community, people are getting upset, angry, stressed out because of all this snow," Cornwell said. "There's a pending fear of what else is to come."