Inch of snow locally to accompany frigid temps

Now that a wind chill warning has expired, Inland Northwest residents can look forward to as much as an inch of snow by morning along with a gradual increase in temperatures. Forecasters this afternoon increased the amount and likelihood of snow tonight, mainly after 4 a.m. They said there is a 60 percent chance of up to an inch of snow in the Spokane and 70 percent in Coeur d’Alene a new storm system moves from the Pacific into mainly Oregon and California. Up to a half inch of snow is possible on Friday in Spokane before 10 a.m. and up to another inch in Coeur d’Alene, according to the afternoon updated forecast. A winter weather advisory was issued for the Palouse region, southeast Washington, central and southern Idaho Panhandle and parts of the lower Columbia Basin for 2 to 4 inches of snow mainly between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. Northeast winds may kick up again Friday night at 10 to 15 mph, dropping wind chills back to zero or below zero. Currently, a winter storm warning is in effect over much of Oregon. Portland could see 3 to 7 inches of snow by Friday. Travel down the Columbia River Gorge may be hazardous with blizzard conditions. The moisture from the storm could work its way as far north as the Spokane area, forecasters said. It will be accompanied by continued cold, so the snow will be light and fluffy, forecasters said. Spokane reached its coldest temperature of the season so far at minus 5 degrees shortly before dawn. At 10 a.m., it was 5 degrees at the airport with a 10 mph northeast wind for a wind chill feeling on exposed skin of minus 10. Today’s high is expected to reach 12 followed by a low tonight of 5 and a high on Friday of 17. Forecasters have reduced the chance of snow to 30 to 40 percent on Saturday night through Monday. Temperatures are not likely to rise above freezing until Tuesday, and any new precipitation is more likely to fall as snow. There is a possibility of rain mixed in with the snow starting on Tuesday.