Sleet expected later today over Inland Northwest

This week’s cold weather is going to ease today, but the moderating temperatures are going to be accompanied by the threat of sleet or freezing rain this evening. Thickening clouds today could lead to a chance of precipitation after 4 p.m., forecasters said. Today’s high should reach the middle 30s. An overnight low of 31 is expected in Spokane. A Pacific storm system is bringing milder air, but this week’s arctic cold will hug the ground through late Friday morning. Once the milder ocean air reaches the ground, temperatures are expected to rise above freezing and end the threat of freezing rain after 10 a.m. on Friday. Until then, a mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain or rain are in the forecast. The chance of precipitation is 30 percent tonight and 40 percent on Friday. A 20 percent chance of rain or snow is in the forecast through Monday with highs in the lower 40s on Friday and Saturday and middle to upper 30s on Sunday and Monday. Lows are going to be in the lower 30s tonight and Friday night, dropping back to the upper 20s on Saturday and Sunday nights.