Don’t Put The Shovel Away - Winter’s Not Over Cold Weather Expected To Return To The Region Later This Week

A lick of spring over the weekend lured Inland Northwest folks out of their homes and into their yards.

But the past week of spring-like weather, capped by Sunday’s high of 51 degrees, is heading south.

Forecasters see a chance of cold rain showers - and possibly more snow - by Thursday.

That’s sobering news for people rooting for winter to end.

“We’re ready for spring,” protested Lexi Santos at Mel’s Nursery on North Division.

Santos said she’s received lots of calls from customers eager to start planting, but the nursery is still a few weeks away from stocking outdoor greenery.

At Ritter’s Nursery nearby, clerk Linda Sanders said gardeners might consider pruning trees and shrubs, but that’s about the only thing that can be done this early in the gardening season.

“Nice weather gets everybody springy,” Sanders said.

“People want to start planting, but it’s too early.”

Meteorologists at the National Weather Service have their own view of things.

They said cold air from the Alaskan coast is expected to hit Spokane on Thursday and Friday, replacing the mild air flow that’s been anchored over the region since Feb. 10.

The freezing level should drop to about 2,500 to 3,000 feet by the end of the week.

There is a good chance that new snow will fall at mountain ski resorts, but a lesser chance of frozen precipitation reaching valley floors, the weather service said.

Highs Thursday and Friday should be in the low 30s with overnight lows in the 20s.

The shot of colder air probably will be short-lived, according to the weather service.

, DataTimes