Rain still likely today and tonight

Although the first have of Valentine’s Day has been dry across the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas, forecasters are continuing to predict rain today as a cold front moves across the Inland Northwest from the Pacific coast. Temperatures are going to be mild for February with a high in Spokane of 47, which was downgraded from an earlier forecast of 51. Gusty south winds to 25 mph are possible later today. The chances of rain and snow continue tonight. A low of 37 is expected. Cooler weather and chances of rain and snow are predicted for the rest of the work week with lows dropping to near freezing and to the upper 20s by Tuesday night through Thursday night. Light snowfall is possible on Wednesday and Thursday with less than a half inch each day. Snow is going to fall in the mountains of the region, and may be sufficient to slow traffic over the passes in North Idaho. An upper-level low pressure area is moving into the region today, allowing snow levels to drop to around 2,400 feet Radar this morning showed a band of rain in the heart of the Columbia Basin and moving eastward. At 1 p.m., it was 40 at Spokane International Airport and Deer Park and 43 at Felts Field and Coeur d’Alene. The normal high for today is 39 and the normal low is 26. Sunset is at 5:12 p.m. and sunrise Tuesday is at 6:56 a.m. Daylight is increasing by about three minutes each day.