Snow, subzero chill expected
Arctic front forecast to hit region Wednesday; accumulation will be heaviest in Panhandle
The fair weather of the past several days is disappearing as the Inland Northwest drops back into the deep freeze this week.
Snow is expected today through Thursday. An arctic cold front will cross into the region starting on Wednesday, sending temperatures by Thursday night to below zero.
A pool of cold air over the interior of Alaska on Monday was expected to plunge southward on the northern branch of the jet stream this week.
Ahead of the front and combined with it will be a series of storms that are expected to bring snow starting today.
The Idaho Panhandle may see heavy snow during the period.
A hazardous weather outlook was posted for all of Eastern Washington.
A winter storm warning was posted for portions of North Idaho and a winter weather advisory is in effect for other portions of North Idaho and Northeast Washington.
As much as 16 inches of snow could fall in the central Panhandle mountains.
In the Spokane area, accumulations may reach an inch to 2 inches through Wednesday with another 1 to 3 inches possible on Wednesday night.
Coeur d’Alene could see 2 to 6 inches today and Wednesday.
Nighttime and early-morning temperatures could plunge to the teens or colder on Thursday morning and then to near zero or the single digits below zero by Friday morning. The lows stay near zero in Spokane through Saturday night.
Highs should only reach the middle and upper teens on Thursday through Saturday in both Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.