Where’s spring? Wind chill dropped to 16 degrees

The lashing winds from Thursday are gone to be left by breezy conditions and a wind chill of 16 degrees this morning as measured at Spokane International Airport. A winter feel is hanging on as dry, cool air from the Gulf of Alaska moves across the region. Forecasters are calling for a chance of showers and clouds and breezy winds today, but improving weather on Saturday. Lows tonight should be in the middle 20s. Winds gusted this morning at the airport to 22 mph, which is well below the gusts to 53 mph that swept through the airport and the rest of the region on Thursday, causing power outages in many locations. As if to prove that spring has yet to really arrive, swallows that normally make it to Spokane by the first week of April are yet to show up. Maybe they know something. Snow has slowed traffic on Snoqualmie Pass in Washington today where a winter storm warning was still in effect through this morning. Traction tires were required. Things are getting better on Saturday. Highs should reach the middle 50s with mostly sunny skies. A chance of showers returns on Sunday when more clouds are expected. Temperatures starting Saturday should remain more seasonal with highs in the middle 50s and lows in the lower to middle 30s. The chance of showers stays in the forecast through Wednesday. Higher air pressure is replacing the powerful low that crossed just to the north of the region and created a steep pressure gradient and strong winds on Thursday. At 7 a.m. today, it was 28 at the Spokane airport, 30 in downtown Spokane, 27 in Coeur d’Alene and Deer park and 29 in Pullman.