Snow to change to rain across Inland Northwest

Snow falling on this morning’s commute traffic should change over to rain at lower elevations of the Inland Northwest while mountain areas could see up to a foot of new snow today. The snow level should rise to 2,200 feet later in the day, causing a mix of snow and rain for the afternoon. All rain is expected tonight. Coeur d’Alene is at 2,200 feet. An inch or two of snow is possible in the urban areas before rain arrives. The high in Spokane, elevation 1,850 feet in downtown, should be about 39 degrees with Coeur d’Alene maybe a degree warmer than that. Wind gusts from the south today and tonight could reach 24 mph. Heavy snow was reported this morning on Snoqualmie Pass. Locally, what snow is on the ground is in danger of melting away. Forecasters are calling for a 100 percent chance of rain tonight and lows a few degrees above freezing. The milder and wet weather continues into Thanksgiving Day, helping travelers get across roads without the threat of snow and ice. The active weather pattern will also cut the risk of fog. Snow levels could rise above mountain passes on Tuesday and Wednesday, making cross-state and interstate travel easier. Computer models show drying conditions on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving night and Friday may bring a renewed chance of snow, but the wet pattern kicks back in on Saturday and Sunday with highs in the lower 40s and lows on Saturday near 35. Subtropical moisture is getting caught up in a persistent southwesterly flow this week, according to computer models. Today, forecasters have posted a winter storm warning for areas the north of Spokane and Coeur d’Alene for 12 to 18 inches of snow in the mountains and 6 to 10 inches in valley locations in a swath running from the eastern Okanogan region into Montana. The Cascades could also see heavy snow today, especially on the western slopes. At 7 a.m., it was 28 at Spokane International Airport, but 30 degrees by 8 a.m.