Coldest January since 1979 sets the stage for new round of snow

January was the fourth-coldest first month of the year in Spokane since records started in 1881.

The average temperature last month was 9.3 degrees below normal, the coldest January since 1979 when it was 10.5 degrees below normal based on a 30-year average.

The average temperature last month was 20.2 degrees.

Now, the cold air is setting up a perfect scenario for more snow.

National Weather Service forecasters on Thursday said an incoming storm from milder waters of the Pacific Ocean will interact with arctic air to bring as much as 5 inches of snow to Spokane and 6 inches to Coeur d’Alene.

The snow could start as early as 4 a.m. on Friday and continue through the day and night, subsiding about midday on Saturday as highs go to the upper 30s.

“It’s a 48-hour deal,” said forecaster Bob Tobin.

The incoming storm is carrying milder air, so once it displaces the arctic air, the precipitation will change to rain in lower elevations by Saturday afternoon.

Breezy southwest winds are likely through Monday.

A winter weather advisory is in effect for the Spokane area, Palouse, parts of North Idaho and Columbia Basin from 7 a.m. Friday through 10 a.m. on Saturday.

A more serious winter storm warning is in effect for mountain areas of North Idaho and Stevens and Pend Oreille counties in Washington.

Once the current storm passes, the Inland Northwest stands a good chance of seeing milder and wetter weather starting at the end of next week and continuing into the second full week of February.

“It looks like it is going to get warmer, but we’ll see,” Tobin said.