Rain replaces snow today

The mix of snow and rain falling at daybreak this morning should change to all rain today as a milder Pacific storm system moves across the Pacific Northwest. It is the latest in a week of storms that have brought heavy snow and rain at times. Today’s high should reach 43 in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. The rain may taper off after 4 p.m. in Spokane but linger in North Idaho. Colder air near Coeur d’Alene and in valley areas north of Spokane may lead to a mix of snow and rain in some of those locations this morning. Some of the early rain this morning may be freezing to cold surfaces and side streets, so drivers should use caution. The chances of rain and snow continue through the weekend with the stormy conditions easing some by Sunday. Highs should be in the 40s with lows in the upper 20s to lower 30s. For the second day this week, Mullan Pass east of Wallace hit a daily precipitation record on Tuesday with 1.18 inches of water equivalent recorded there, breaking the old mark of 0.50 inches in 1956. At 7 a.m., it was 34 at Spokane International Airport and Coeur d’Alene, 35 in downtown Spokane, 33 in Deer Park and 37 in Pullman. The milder air today has improved driving conditions over Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90 where the pavement was bare and wet with slush in places this morning.