Wind to whip region tonight

The National Weather Service has posted a wind advisory for the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas tonight for gusts approaching 40 mph. In addition, a high wind watch is in effect for central Washington, including the areas just east of the Cascades. The wind is being carried by a Pacific storm that should bring rain to the Inland Northwest today after 10 a.m. Today’s high should reach 47 in downtown Spokane. Winds are expected to peak between midnight and 6 a.m., which could make for a fitful sleep tonight. Sustained winds will blow at 20 to 35 mph with gusts to 40 mph. The wind advisory includes Spokane, the Palouse and portions of North Idaho. Along the east slopes of the Cascades, wind gusts could reach 55 mph, forecasters said. A high wind warning is in effect for Wenatchee, Chelan, Leavenworth and Waterville. The chance of rain today in Spokane is 60 percent. That increases to 70 percent tonight. Fog is causing visibility problems along Interstate 90 near the Medical Lake interchange this morning. Snow levels are expected to remain high in the mountains today at elevations of 5,000 to 6,000 feet. A cold front Wednesday night or Thursday morning will drop snow levels across the region so that valley locations may see their first accumulations of the year, although amounts will be on the lighter side. The cold may linger through the weekend with a low Saturday night of 22 and a high on Sunday of 30. At 7 a.m., it was 35 at Spokane International Airport, 39 at Felts Field, 37 in Coeur d’Alene, 36 in Deer Park and 43 in Pullman.