Looks like white-knuckle Christmas for travelers

A threat of more fresh snow on Saturday may bring trouble for the region’s motorists, but with temperatures barely climbing out of the low 30s through Monday, it could lay the base for the season’s gold standard: a white Christmas.

“Right now it looks like a 70 to 80 percent chance of snow on the ground (Christmas morning),” said forecaster Jeffrey Cote of the National Weather Service in Spokane.

Computer forecast models on Thursday were suggesting the possibility of significant snowfall throughout the day on Saturday at the same time many motorists are expected to be out on the highways traveling to their holiday destinations.

As a result, the weather service issued a winter storm watch for Saturday across much of Northeast Washington and North Idaho. Snow could start early in the day and continue through the evening. Gusty winds may accompany the passage of the storm’s low pressure center Saturday night, Cote said.

Highs are predicted in the lower- to mid-30s in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene from today through Monday. Lows in the 20s are likely. That means any slushy, wet road surfaces could glaze over after nightfall.

A break in the weather is expected on Sunday when a 20 percent chance of snow is in the forecast.

But another Pacific frontal system should cross the area Sunday evening into Christmas morning, according to the forecast on Thursday evening. Cote said he wasn’t sure whether it would bring snow or rain or some of both on Christmas.

The digital forecasts have shown different paths for the storms during the past several computer runs, leaving doubt about exactly how much precipitation will fall through the holiday, and whether it will be white or wet on Monday. The forecast on Thursday evening called for a 60 percent chance of rain or snow on Christmas.

“It depends on the storm track,” Cote said. “That’s why I’m not saying 100 percent” for the chances of a white Christmas.