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Forecasters predict a frigid week ahead in Inland Northwest

Basketball fans head home down Washington Street from the Eastern Washington University Eagles game Sunday against the women of Gonzaga University. Temperatures warmed up enough to melt snow, but fog and road conditions still challenged drivers. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jonathan Glover jonathanglover22@gmail.com

After a weekend in which the Inland Northwest saw its first major snowfall of the season, the workweek will begin with weather watchers forecasting nighttime lows near zero and daytime highs struggling toward the midteens through Wednesday.

The National Weather Service in Spokane expects highs Monday to be in the mid-20s before temperatures tumble to single digits in the evening.

“We’ll see a steady drop in temperature tomorrow night,” Joey Clevenger, Spokane weather service meteorologist, said Sunday. “We’re getting a big cold push.”

Nighttime lows Monday and Tuesday are expected to hover close to zero in the Spokane area, before settling around the 10-degree mark Wednesday and Thursday, according to the weather service. Daytime highs Tuesday and Wednesday should be in the midteens, reaching the mid-20s once again on Thursday.

North Idaho doesn’t look much different. Forecasters predicted snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches overnight into Monday morning, with temperatures rising to the mid-20s before dropping to an overnight low in the single digits.

During the day Sunday in Spokane, unplowed residential streets remained slippery as the city focused on plowing arterials, hills, the hospital district and emergency routes. City spokesman Brian Coddington said the city had 15 snowplows running two 10-hour shifts Sunday.

Coddington said residential areas typically are plowed when 6 inches of snow is recorded.

“Right now, we’re making sure we’re hitting all the trouble spots and hot spots,” he said Sunday.

The number of reported accidents caused by weather over the weekend was minimal.

Forecasters said the low cloud cover should break Monday, allowing the sun to peek out and melt some of the ice on roads. What moisture is left will freeze again Monday before a few days of cold, dry weather.

Forecasters said to expect more snow heading into next weekend.

“Another low system is looking to impact the region,” Clevenger said. “So we could possibly see another round.”