Winter storm warning for NE Washington

SPOKANE — The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning from this afternoon to Tuesday morning for northeast Washington and the North Idaho Panhandle. Forecasters expect 5 to 10 inches of snow in the mountains and 1 to 3 inches in the valleys in the area that includes Republic, Colville and Chewelah. Snow also is expected to accumulate on the east side of the Cascades, including Winthrop and Leavenworth. Forecasters say cold unsettled conditions will continue through the week in Eastern Washington. In Spokane, the snow level should start at about 3,700 feet in elevation and lower to 2,400 feet after midnight tonight, which is just above most of the metropolitan area, including Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls. The high on Tuesday may only reach 42. The normal high in Spokane for today is 55 with a normal low of 30. Spokane International Airport reported a trace of snow on Sunday, the first snow of the season to fall at the city’s official weather monitoring station. In Western Washington, forecasters say cool showery weather is likely through the week.