Increasing clouds foreshadow coming rain

Cool weather today with increasing clouds this afternoon will be the prelude to increasing chances of rain and showers, and the possibility of snow in the higher mountains through Saturday across the Inland Northwest. A series of low pressure systems is expected to move southward from the Gulf of Alaska and British Columbia, bringing the autumn-like conditions to the region. Temperatures today will remain below normal with highs of 58 in downtown Spokane, Spokane Valley and Post Falls and 56 in Coeur d’Alene with light winds. The chance of rain enters the forecast tonight at about 30 percent and then increases to 40 to 50 percent on Friday and 60 to 70 percent on Saturday, depending on location across the two-state region. Highs will remain in the middle 50s with lows at night in the middle 30s. The risk of freezing temperatures is not seen until Sunday night when lows could dip to a forecast of 33, according to the National Weather Service. Snow levels are expected to fall to 5,000 feet on Friday and then drop to 4,000 feet on Friday night and Saturday in the mountains of Northeast Washington and North Idaho. The snow level in the Cascades and Blue Mountains should stay at 5,000 feet. The average high in Spokane today is 67 with an average low of 41. The high at Spokane International Airport on Wednesday was 55. At 7 a.m., temperatures were 35 at the airport, 41 at Felts Field, 43 in Coeur d’Alene, 41 in Sandpoint, 33 in Deer Park and 35 in Pullman. Freezing temperatures were being reported at rural locations in Stevens County and a few in Latah County north of Moscow this morning.