Next Pacific storm heading north

A large Pacific storm moving towards the West Coast is likely to move northward into British Columbia, keeping the Inland Northwest largely dry. Enough of the storm’s energy could be caught in the Cascades and Idaho Panhandle to bring a layer of fresh snow at higher elevations. A warm layer of air moving at the leading edge of the storm is expected to raise snow levels up to 4,000 feet tonight. Several inches of snow is possible in the mountains. The Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas should see increasing clouds and a highs in the middle 40s. Spokane has a 60 percent chance of light rain tonight and a low of 36. Gusty winds are possible on Thursday, but forecasters said the heaviest gusts should stay below 30 mph. After a high of 43 on Thursday, cooler air will settle over the region, bringing temperatures down to the lower 30s for highs and 20s for lows during the weekend. The next chance of rain or snow arrives Monday and Monday night. At 7 a.m., it was 31 at Spokane International Airport.