Snow, rain chances increase this week

The stubborn pattern of dry weather across the Inland Northwest is showing signs of changing this week with a series of storms likely to bring a combination of rain and snow to lower elevations and all snow to the mountains. A ridge of higher air pressure along the Pacific Coast is going to weaken and allow Pacific storms to flow inland. The change starts tonight with a slight chance of snow. Chances of precipitation increase by Tuesday and Tuesday night. Forecasters are calling for less than a half inch of snow accumulation. The chance of rain or snow continues into the weekend with rain possible by Friday night and Saturday. Wind is expected with the weekend storm. Highs will be in the middle 30s today and Tuesday with lows in the 20s. Nighttime temperatures should go to the lower 30s by Wednesday night. Spokane has seen less than half its normal amount of precipitation and less than a third of its normal snowfall this season. Snow packs stand at about 75 percent of normal.