Arctic cold arrives over weekend

Snow showers are being reported around the Inland Northwest this morning as temperatures cool with a flow of weather from the north. A low pressure system has anchored itself across the Pacific Northwest with the most active weather moving to the south through Oregon this morning. Even so, snow was falling at 7 a.m. in Coeur d’Alene and the ground in Spokane showed evidence that very light snow had fallen before dawn. By late morning, the shower activity had moved northward into the Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry areas. Skies were clearing out over the Columbia Basin into the Spokane area. Snow was also reported on the region’s mountain passes this morning. Highs today should reach the middle and upper 30s before colder air begins to be felt tonight with a low in the lower 20s. Snow showers will diminish tonight through Saturday night. The high on Saturday will not make it to freezing, but will remain in the lower 30s as arctic air starts filtering southward over the region. The low on with a low Saturday night should drop to between 12 and 14. Another chance of snow showers arrives on Sunday night and Monday as a weak weather disturbance drops southward along an arctic frontal boundary. The chance of snow is 50 to 60 percent, but accumulations would be light. The coldest weather arrives on Monday and Tuesday with highs in the lower 20s on Monday and only in the teens on Tuesday. The low Tuesday night should get to the single digits with 5 expected in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. Temperatures will moderate starting Wednesday. But Thanksgiving Day will remain cold with a high of 21. The chance of snow showers on Wednesday and Thursday is about 20 percent, and skies will otherwise be cloudy. At 7 a.m., it was 30 at Spokane International Airport, 36 at Felts Field, 34 in Coeur d’Alene, 31 in Deer Park and 30 in Pullman.