Resolute April showers

Rain and showers are dominating the forecast as the weekend approaches.

A storm system carrying a feed of moisture from the southwest was expected to arrive overnight and continue well into this afternoon, bringing breezy conditions later today.

A half inch or more of rain is likely in the Spokane area and elsewhere through today.

The most favorable times to go outdoors should be earlier in the day on Friday through Sunday with afternoon showers likely to pop up. Wind gusts may accompany showers.

In the mountains, snow levels will rise to the upper elevations, mainly above 4,500 feet or higher.

Starting Friday, low pressure in the upper atmosphere will continue the risk of afternoon showers through Sunday under mostly cloudy skies. In Spokane, the chance of showers on Friday through Sunday will range from 30 to 50 percent with Saturday likely to be the driest day. Highs will be in the 50s with lows in the middle to upper 30s.

In the Coeur d’Alene region, the weather forecast tracks about the same as the forecast for Spokane, except the chances of showers over the weekend will be in the 40 to 50 percent range and temperatures will be a few degrees cooler.

The greatest cloud cover during the weekend is likely to be concentrated around the mountains. Northeast Washington and North Idaho shower chances run about 50 percent.

In the Columbia Basin, conditions will be mainly dry after today with partly sunny skies expected Saturday and high temperatures near 60 degrees.

In the Palouse, the chances of showers will be 50 percent on Friday and 30 to 40 percent over the weekend.