Autumn turns cooler

Autumn is turning over a new leaf this week with cooler temperatures and a chance of snow entering the forecast by the end of the week. High temperatures today should reach the lower and middle 40s in Spokane through the week, but there is a chance that early-morning precipitation could fall as snow with lows dipping to about 30 tonight and Tuesday night. Forecasters said that the storm system in the Pacific Ocean is moving toward Oregon and may only brush the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas. There is a small possibility that some snow may fall in the region overnight tonight and again on Tuesday night with the highest probability along the east slopes of the Cascades near Lake Chelan and in higher elevations of southeast Washington. The chance of snow returns on Saturday as the cool weather continues and another weak storm arrives off the North Pacific Ocean. Snow was visible today alongside roadways in Metaline Falls and on U.S. Highway 395 at Loon Lake. Sherman Pass had snow on the pavement. Snoqualmie Pass was wet. Dry weather and partly sunny skies are likely on Wednesday and Thursday with highs in the middle 40s and lows in the upper 20s to near 30. Snow levels may drop to 2,000 feet. Downtown Spokane is at 1,900 feet and Spokane International Airport is at 2,372 feet. This week’s cool down comes after Pullman saw a record high of 66 degrees on Saturday, which was 1 degree warmer than the previous record of 65 in 1949. Records have been kept there since 1940. Spokane had a high of 60 on Saturday.