Weekend weather: Sunny skies give way to rainy days

The bright sunshine from earlier in the week is going south as the Pacific storm track returns to the Inland Northwest.

Temperatures are going to continue about 10 degrees above normal for daytime highs, but a series of storms has been breaking down the sunny high pressure system that started off the week.

Spokane had a high of 50 on Tuesday, which was 3 degrees below the record for Feb. 9, but 12 degrees above average.

Highs should stay in the middle and upper 40s through the weekend, but there is a chance of rain each day through Sunday.

Lows should be in the mid-30s to lower 40s by Sunday night.

Incoming weather systems will be breaking down the high pressure today so rainfall amounts should be light.

The greatest chance of rain is likely to arrive on Friday and Friday evening with another shot of rain expected on Saturday.

The relatively mild air is going to send snow levels higher, possibly to mountaintops and above for a while.

Snow could return to mountain slopes late Friday and Saturday thanks to a cold front.

Even so, highs may range in the lower to middle 30s.

Ski areas are hoping for new snow.

As of Wednesday, at least two ski areas were reporting no new snow since Feb. 4. Skiers are hoping this weekend’s storms will add to Snowpacks that are still at healthy levels.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort has 91 inches on the summit.

To the west, 49 Degrees North ski area has 144 inches on top.

Snowpacks in Northeast Washington and North Idaho are running from 92 to 131 percent of normal as of Monday.

In Spokane, the season’s snowfall totals are beginning to fall behind what would normally be seen during a season.

Through Tuesday, Spokane had 33.6 inches of snow at the airport, which is 2.6 inches below normal.

The National Weather Service outlook through Feb. 21 calls for warmer than normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation.