Weather mostly favorable for travel

The Inland Northwest should be spared winter-like weather during most of the Thanksgiving holiday period, although fog could be a problem at mid-week, forecasters said this morning. The National Weather Service is calling for a high of 38 in Spokane and 39 in Coeur d’Alene. Clear skies in the Spokane area could give way to clouds later today. Light south winds are expected. “The holiday weeks looks fairly good for travel across the region, although there may a couple of little troublemakers,” said meteorologist John Livingston in an e-mail today. A weak warm front crossing the region later today could bring a chance of rain or rain and snow this evening. The snow level in the Coeur d’Alene area will start out today at the lowest elevations and then rise to 2,700 feet. Coeur d’Alene is at 2,240 feet. Accumulations are not likely. Rain is expected in Spokane. High pressure builds into the region on Tuesday through most of Thursday when clouds and patches of fog are possible. A weak Pacific frontal system could bring rain Thursday night and Friday. A slight chance of showers returns on Saturday night and Sunday. Weak storm systems tonight and again on Thursday should bring rain to Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90, but then snow levels drop over the weekend and snow is likely across the pass on Friday through Sunday. At Lookout Pass on I-90, snow is likely today through early Tuesday and again on Thursday night and Friday. The weekend should see snow showers at the pass. At Fourth of July Summit on I-90, rain and snow are possible tonight and again Thursday night with snow showers expected through the weekend. Snoqualmie Pass this morning was open with a bare and wet roadway and temperature of 34. In Idaho, Fourth of July summit and Lookout Pass had bare pavement with icy patches. Light snow is falling at Lookout Pass. On Sunday, the 3.2 inches of snow that fell at Spokane International Airport tied a record for the date that was last reached in 1946. The rural community of Anatone southwest of Clarkston and Asotin along the eastern side of the Blue Mountains in southeast Washington saw 7 to 10 inches of snow on Sunday. Elsewhere, Deary in Idaho had 7 inches and Viola in the Idaho Palouse had 9.5 inches. At 7 a.m. today, the temperature was 30 at the Spokane airport, 34 in downtown Spokane, 32 in Coeur d’Alene and Deer Park, 37 in Sandpoint and 28 in Pullman.