Wet, snowy mess arrives over Inland NW

A wet, snowy mess descended on the Inland Northwest just after daybreak today with a quick round of snow changing to a mix of rain, snow and freezing rain. National Weather Service forecasters said the freezing precipitation should change to all rain by 10 a.m. with a high today near 41 and a low tonight near 39. Less than a half an inch of snow collected quickly on lawns and paved surfaces on the North Side around 6:30 a.m. before the snow started to turn to a rain-snow mix. Rain was reported initially in Liberty Lake and east Spokane Valley. A parade of storms continues to flow inland off the Pacific Ocean, but the storm track is increasingly bringing milder air over the region. All rain is expected tonight and Thursday as a fairly strong Pacific front arrives. Winds Thursday night could gust to 36 mph. The risk of snow rises into the mountains after today and is likely to remain there with highs going into the 50s by this weekend. However, rain and some chances for overnight or early morning snow remain in the forecast for Friday night through Saturday night. At 7 a.m., it was 32 at Spokane International Airport, Felts Field and Deer Park, 28 in Coeur d’Alene and 36 in Pullman.