More clouds, but still mild today

A slow transition to more winter-like conditions is expected this weekend, but today’s weather should remain relatively mild with increasing clouds and highs in the middle 40s. A low tonight of 29 would be the coldest temperature in Spokane since Jan. 9 and the first time the thermometer has fallen into the 20s since then. The southerly flow that has brought rain and highs in the 40s to lower 50s for the past 11 days is shifting to a more northwesterly flow the day on Sunday. Partly sunny skies on Saturday are expected, but highs should reach the upper 30s. A slight chance of snow is forecasted for Saturday night through Sunday before a more substantial threat of precipitation arrives on Sunday night. Highs Sunday should remain above normal at about 40. Forecasters are calling for a 60 percent chance of snow on Sunday night to be followed by a 60 percent chance of snow or rain on Monday. Unsettled weather continues next week with a chance of snow or rain expected along with cooler, but still above-normal temperatures. Highs next week should reach the middle to upper 30s with lows in the upper 20s to lower 30s. Normal temperatures in Spokane today are 33 for a high and 22 for a low. So far, January has been 8.2 degrees above normal this year at Spokane International Airport. The high Thursday was 46, just three degrees shy of the record for the date. Ephrata saw a record high of 51 on Thursday. The old record was 50 in 1968. At 7 a.m., it was 30 at the Spokane airport, 29 in downtown Spokane, 30 in Coeur d’Alene, 31 in Deer Park and 32 in Pullman.