Winter Storm Expected To Pound Region Today

The fluffy, dry snow covering the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene region probably won’t last through the night.

A potent weather-maker from the southwest is expected to arrive before dark, and bring with it several hours of snow before possibly changing to rain in the lowlands.

A winter storm watch was issued for this afternoon and evening.

“It’s possible before it turns to rain we could see anywhere from 2 to 4 inches,” said John Fox, forecaster for the National Weather Service in Spokane.

Fox said the timing of snow turning to rain is tricky for forecasters. The warm air should move in aloft and scour out the cold air in the lower elevations, he said.

“It could turn a little slushy for a while,” he said.

As the storm passes, more freezing weather is expected during the nighttime hours. Friday’s high in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene should be in the mid-30s, forecasters said.

A Gulf of Alaska low-pressure system responsible for the snow earlier this week was expected to migrate south today and push milder, moisture-laden air into the region.

That could bring heavy snow to the mountains.

Fox said it is not clear how far north the rain will get today, but forecasters are betting it won’t reach Colville or Sandpoint.

The outlook for the weekend calls for breezy conditions and a chance of snow. High winds are not expected.

In the past two days, snowfall amounts varied from 4 to 6 inches around Spokane.

The ratio of snow depth to water content was 20 to 1, which is considered light and dry snow. The ratio of snow to water content is more often about 10 to 1.

Fox said the dry snow this week was unusual because the temperature at the time it fell was just below freezing. Dry snow is normally associated with colder temperatures, he said.