Heavy snow possible Saturday
Frigid weather expected to chill region until Thursday
As arctic cold grips the Inland Northwest, forecasters are turning their attention to the next weather event: the possibility of snow Saturday and Sunday.
A strong warm front may move into the region this weekend that could bring heavy snow to the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene region.
Computer modeling shows that a foot of snow is possible, but forecasters said the storm may not materialize that way.
“There is quite a bit of uncertainty how it’s going to evolve,” said meteorologist John Livingston, of the National Weather Service. “It’s a stay-tuned situation.”
Temperatures Monday dropped to single digits in most locations across the Inland Northwest, and forecasters are calling for more frigid temperatures Wednesday and Thursday before the arctic chill begins to ease.
Spokane International Airport saw a low of 8 degrees and a wind chill factor of minus 10 under blustery northeast winds at dawn Monday.
Lows of minus 2 to minus 4 were expected this morning across the region.
The record low for today in Spokane is minus 11, set in 1972.
Forecasters said they expect the winds to subside today. On Sunday, gusts hit 37 mph at the airport in Spokane and 45 mph in Sandpoint. On Monday, a wind gust was clocked at 24 mph at the airport.
Highs under sunny skies should reach 13 degrees today and 15 degrees Wednesday. Lows tonight and Wednesday night should be in the single digits.
There is a chance of snow flurries at midweek.
More moderate temperatures should arrive Thursday night and Friday, with a low in the teens and a high Friday of 25 degrees in Spokane.
Temperatures could return to normal by Sunday. The averages this time of year are a high of 34 a low of 23.