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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Fog shrouds Spokane area during a.m. commute

Fog reduces visibility to about a quarter mile for drivers on the Monroe Street Bridge in Spokane at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011. (Mike Prager)
Fog settled over much of Spokane on Wednesday morning, forcing drivers to peer into a gray soup as they headed out for their days. Visibility at Felts Field near Millwood was down to a quarter mile at 7 a.m. Similarly foggy conditions were seen along the Spokane River through the city. One report from the Spokane Valley indicated that visibility was less than a quarter mile and that some of the fog was freezing to the pavement, creating slippery patches. Forecasters said that mostly cloudy skies and patchy fog were likely later today in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, with a high in both cities of 38, but the low stratus clouds evaporated after lunch allowing filtered sunshine to reach the ground. The temperature at 2 p.m. was 43 at Spokane International Airport. But fog and freezing fog are possible again tonight with freezing conditions a threat between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. on Thursday. National Weather Service forecasters said fog and low clouds are going to persist into Friday with high temperatures running from the lower 30s to near 40. A chance of rain or snow returns on Friday night through Sunday, although it is only 30 percent in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. An air stagnation advisory was issued for the lower Columbia Basin and Yakima Valley areas for today through 10 a.m. on Saturday. At 7 a.m., it was 30 at Spokane International Airport, 34 at Felts Field and in Coeur d’Alene and 33 in Deer Park and Pullman.