Numbing cold won’t let go

The arctic air flowing into the Inland Northwest isn’t easing its hold on the region just yet. Forecasters are calling for another night of bone-chilling lows just a few degrees above zero, and today’s highs may only reach 12 o 14 degrees across the region. At 7 a.m., temperatures were consistent across much of the region. It was 2 degrees at Spokane International Airport, which is the low so far today. It was 3 degrees in downtown Spokane and Coeur d’Alene and 1 degree in Deer Park and Pullman. The National Weather Service said the northerly flow that brought the arctic cold over the weekend should continue for the next few days before temperatures start to moderate on Thursday night and Friday. Spokane city officials this morning said they would open warming centers tonight to shelter homeless residents at Salvation Army and House of Charity. Lows Wednesday night should fall to about 7 and then on Thursday night to about 11 in both Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. Highs should reach the teens on Wednesday, the 20s on Thursday and Friday and 30 by Saturday. As temperatures slowly climb this weekend, forecasters said there is a good chance that the region will see snow, but snowfall amounts are not certain. Computer weather models this morning indicated moderate to heavy snow south of Spokane and only lighter amounts in the urban areas along Interstate 90. The same models on Monday were suggesting the chance of heavy snow in the Spokane area. Normal temperatures in Spokane this time of year are 34 for a high and 23 for a low. The record low for today is minus 11. On Monday, a high of 16 was reached at the airport at 2:40 p.m., and a low of 3 came at 10 p.m. Temperatures at 7 a.m.