Weekend Weather: Ski resorts could see rebound after wind, rain hurt snow pack

Now that the heavy rain and strong winds have subsided, the National Weather Service said it expects cooler conditions and increasing chances of rain and snow in lower elevations and snow in the mountains from a new flow of air out of the northwest.

Ski areas struggled this week maintaining snow packs on their lower slopes and near ski lodges after more than a foot of snow was reported early in the week.

But rain on Tuesday and early Wednesday beat down the snow. Still, ski areas were hoping the old snow will form a base to provide skiing on new snowfall that is in the forecast.

In the mountains near Schweitzer ski area, 3 to 5 inches of new snow were expected through Thursday from another storm system that followed Wednesday’s rain and wind maker.

To the west, the mountains around 49 Degrees North might see 2 to 4 inches of snow.

Similar amounts are expected in the mountains of Shoshone County.

Snow could continue to accumulate an inch at a time from passing disturbances or showers before a new storm brings another 2 to 4 inches on Saturday in the mountains.

Daytime temperatures should remain below freezing in the mountains with a cooling trend expected early next week.

While the lodge depth at Mount Spokane was down to a few inches Wednesday morning, the ski area web site said the downhill runs could open soon with fresh powder.

Lower elevations will see a chance of some wet or slushy snow Thursday morning, but high temperatures above freezing will minimize the impact on travel.

Little to no snow accumulation is expected in Spokane. Less than an inch of snow is possible in Coeur d’Alene. The overall forecast is for rain and snow or a mix of the two with Thursday and Saturday having the greatest chances of precipitation.

Winds could gust into the 20s in Spokane today.

High temperatures will start out today near 40 degrees in both cities and then fall back to the 30s through the weekend before colder air arrives for early next week.

Lows will be in the 30s until Sunday night when they drop back to the middle 20s in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.