Strong winds to arrive Tuesday afternoon

Winds gusting to 50 mph are forecast to sweep into Spokane on Tuesday afternoon, ushering in days of cloudy, rainy weather.

Monday’s postcard autumn day will give way to wind and rain for several days, according to an advisory from the National Weather Service.

The advisory calls for steady winds of 20 mph to 30 mph from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday as a low pressure system rolls into the area.

Such strong winds from the southwest could topple trees or break limbs, causing power outages, according to warnings.

The weather advisory covers much of Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

Overnight Tuesday the winds are expected to slow, and rain is then expected to fall every day this week.

Some snow may accumulate above 5,000 feet later in the week as the temperatures drop.

The weather service said a parade of storms has lined up in the Pacific Ocean and will arrive in Washington and British Columbia over several days.

Temperatures will be moderate, with highs mostly in the mid 50s and lows in the high 30s or 40s.

For Friday, forecasters predict light wind and rain in the valleys. Snow levels could fall to 3,000 to 4,500 feet across northeastern Washington and Idaho.

While the Inland Northwest is due for some rain, Western Washington is bracing for much more rain and strong winds.

By next week the storms will ease and the region will dry out, according to the weather service. Long-range modeling indicates warmer-than-average temperatures and dry conditions.