Pacific storms set to bring fresh powder

The snow-challenged ski and snowmobiling season should get a good shot of fresh powder over the next several days as the region gets hit with a pair of new Pacific storms.

National Weather Service forecasters said most of the lower elevations will see some snow changing to rain while higher elevations should remain all snow through Sunday.

The first system is expected to arrive this evening starting as early as 4 p.m. with the greater likelihood of precipitation reaching the Spokane area by 10 p.m.

Precipitation in Spokane should turn to all rain after 1 a.m. Coeur d’Alene should see snow until about 10 p.m., when incoming milder air changes it to a snow-rain mix. Freezing rain is not expected. Rain showers are possible in both cities Friday morning.

In Coeur d’Alene, a half inch of snow is possible tonight and again early Friday.

Northern valleys north of U.S. Highway 2 could see a bit more snow with 1 to 3 inches possible.

The first storm is expected to exit the region on Friday on a south wind giving the region a break until the next juicy system arrives around sunset on Saturday.

The second storm is expected to capture a fetch of subtropical moisture and pull it northward in a pattern seen several times already this storm season.

Rainfall in Spokane could be substantial on Saturday night and Sunday, according to one computer forecast. It could range from a half inch to an inch of rain.

Temperatures through the period will be mainly in the 30s to low 40s.

Snow levels will rise this weekend in the mountains to 3,500 feet near the Canadian border and 6,000 feet or higher in the lower Idaho Panhandle.

This scenario will bring snow changing to rain in the central and southern mountains of the region and all snow in the northern mountains, forecasters said.