Weather: Arctic blast will pass by region

While the mountains of the Inland Northwest could still use a lot more snow, the weather has shifted to a dry pattern for the next several days.

On the plus side, the forecast is calling for partly sunny skies at higher elevations for today and Friday with highs in the lower 30s before clouds arrive for Saturday and Sunday. Gusty east winds are likely through Friday.

Lower elevations will likely stay fairly gray with areas of fog and low clouds expected to persist. Highs should be in the lower to middle 30s with lows in the middle and upper 20s. Light northeast winds are expected through Friday.

National Weather Service forecasters said the Inland Northwest is under a calm area of higher air pressure, outside the line of an arctic blast plunging into much of the U.S. east of the Rockies.

The higher air pressure will weaken starting on Friday night. The change opens the way for a small chance of light snow on Saturday.

Mountain areas could see light snow at times starting on Friday night and continuing until Tuesday.

The next significant storm is expected on Sunday night and Monday, but it will move south of the region. Southern Washington and the lower Idaho Panhandle may see rain and snow from that storm, which will mainly affect Oregon.

Here is how the weekend weather is being summarized:

“Overall, there are no major storm systems to speak of, but periods of light precipitation over the weekend into early next week will have the potential to bring light wintry precipitation,” according to the Spokane bureau of the National Weather Service.

Snow pack surveys show that the region has from 75 percent to just over 90 percent of normal snow accumulations in the mountains for this time of year. But that measurement includes rain and snow melt that have been absorbed by the snow pack.