The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
59°F
Current Conditions
Few clouds
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

More snow due for Inland NW

Linda Resa guides her snow blower through the deep snow in her driveway near the corner of 36th and Napa, Dec. 24, 2016, in Spokane, Wash. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
By Mike Prager mikeprager15@gmail.com(509) 459-5454

The parade of winter storms crossing the Inland Northwest shows no sign of letting up with snow expected Thursday night and again over the New Year’s holiday.

Light snow is expected at lower elevations, but mountain areas could see 4 to 8 inches as the next storm appears as early as Wednesday at higher elevations and along the Canadian border.

Less than an inch of snow is expected in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene Thursday night and in the early morning hours of Friday.

The Cascades north of Interstate 90 should see the highest accumulations.

A break in the weather is likely at lower elevations by Friday afternoon through the first part of Saturday.

But a new storm migrating southward from British Columbia by Saturday night has the potential for more significant snow to be followed by cold north winds starting Sunday night.

“Winds will gradually decrease and bitter cold temperatures will settle in,” forecasters said of the weather early next week.

“Anticipate unseasonable cold Monday night into Tuesday with lows in the single digits (and possibly) below zero, and daytime highs in the teens,” according to a forecast discussion.

High temperatures will run in middle 30s to upper 20s with lows mostly in the 20s through Sunday in the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene area.

Once the arctic air arrives Sunday night, lows should drop to the teens with a high on Monday of around 16 in Spokane followed by single-digit cold Monday night. Winds could gust to 20 mph or higher.

Snowfall in the mountains has been a plus for skiers, boarders and other winter enthusiasts.

Mt. Spokane ski resort has between 3 and 4 feet of snow.

At 49 Degrees North ski area near Chewelah, the snowpack is 44 inches at the bottom of the ski hill and 57 inches at the summit.

Schweitzer ski area is working with 35 inches at the bottom of the mountain and 55 inches on top. Schweitzer reported 11 inches of new snow over a three-day period this week.

Lookout Pass had 24 inches of new snow over a two-day period this week and now has a snowpack of 103 inches on the summit.