Showers ending today, mild weather on way

Showery weather across the Inland Northwest is going to end today with a drying trend moving from north to south through the day. A band of rainfall is keeping areas of the Palouse region and portions of the Idaho Panhandle damp this morning. Spokane and Coeur d’Alene are at the northern fringe of the rain which is falling mainly south of Interstate 90. The rain is expected to migrate southward through the day and evening. Temperatures today are going to be mild with highs in the lower to middle 60s. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent in Spokane and 70 percent in Coeur d’Alene. Improving weather is seen for Tuesday and Wednesday with mostly sunny skies and highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Fog is possible Tuesday morning. The milder weather should remain in place this week despite another wet storm expected on Wednesday night and Thursday. Highs should remain in the 60s to lower 70s with lows in the 40s throughout the week. Temperatures in the mountains are also going to rise, which will accelerate snow melt and push rivers to higher levels. Most rivers are expected to run with full banks. The National Weather Service today said that flooding is expected starting on Sunday on the Coeur d’Alene River at Cataldo and the St. Joe River at St. Maries. Other rivers that may see flooding are the Moyie, Kettle and Spokane rivers. A moist southerly flow is expected to bring warm temperatures to the mountains and a chance of heavy rain Wednesday night through Sunday.