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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Weekend weather: Region will see mixture of precipitation this weekend

Moderating temperatures are moving north across the region starting today as light precipitation from a Pacific low pressure system spreads across the region.

The low is allowing a warm front to ride up over colder arctic air that’s been feeding southward this week.

Precipitation in Spokane should be mainly snow and rain until tonight when the warm air takes over and changes any lowland precipitation to rain.

Little or no snow accumulations are expected in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene through this evening. After that, temperatures will have moderated sufficiently to change the precipitation to rain.

To the south, there is a chance of freezing rain today over parts of the Palouse in Washington and Idaho as well as the Walla Walla area.

Freezing rain could reach as far north as the West Plains and the Interstate 90 corridor southwest of Spokane today.

Freezing rain is also possible tonight and Friday at around 4,000 feet on the climb to Lookout Pass.

A stronger storm arrives overnight on Friday into Saturday, bringing rain to the lowlands and snow to the mountains of Northeast Washington, North Idaho and the Cascades.

Sunday could bring dry weather.

Temperatures in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene will go from the low 30s this morning to the middle 30s this afternoon and tonight.

Highs rise to the low 40s through the weekend with lows remaining above freezing.

In Sandpoint, an inch or less of snow could fall through this evening before mixed precipitation arrives. Rain is likely on Friday as cold air is scoured away by the warm front.

Schweitzer ski area could see 6 inches or more of snow through Saturday. The 49 Degrees North ski area should also benefit from three days of snow.

Near Lookout Pass and the Silver Mountain ski areas, snow levels should rise above 5,000 feet after today before dropping again later Saturday. Mountain tops could see 6 inches of new snow.