Rain to be replaced by wind today

Rainfall is expected to ease off in the Spokane region today to be replaced by windy conditions this afternoon. Southwest wind gusts as high as 41 mph in Spokane and 37 mph in Coeur d’Alene are possible this afternoon with sustained winds at 20 to 25 mph. Breezy conditions should persist through much of the night with gusts continuing near 40 mph. So far today, gusts to 30 mph have been clocked at the airport as of 1:30 p.m. A wind advisory was issued for most of the Columbia Basin as far north as Spokane and for North Idaho from Coeur d’Alene southward to Lewiston from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The West Plains area could see stronger gusts to 46 mph. The chance of rain is dropping to 30 percent this afternoon in Spokane and 50 percent in Coeur d’Alene. A warm front that crossed the region overnight should bring milder weather with highs in Spokane near 60 and in Coeur d’Alene near 56. Lows tonight also will be mild at about 44. Snow levels are rising across the region today with rain at lower and middle elevations. A flood warning was posted by the National Weather Service this afternoon for the Palouse River between Potlatch and Palouse for minor flooding and the St. Joe River at St. Maries. The chance of showers returns on Thursday at 40 percent in Spokane and a high of 62. The mild weather may bring a dry and cloudy day on Friday with a high of 58 in Spokane. A new storm system Friday night and Saturday will send temperatures back down to the lower 50s during the day and middle 30s at night. Rain chances will also return. The weather service today also continued an avalanche warning for the Cascades due to heavy snow this month. At 7 a.m., it was 43 at Spokane International Airport, 45 at Felts Field, 39 in Coeur d’Alene and 41 in Deer Park and Pullman.