Temperature drops to 2 for a frigid New Year

Temperatures plunged to near zero and below in the Spokane region on New Year’s morning.

Spokane International Airport reported a low of 2 degrees at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday and again in the early morning hours on Friday, the coldest night of the winter so far.

Deer Park was the coldest locale with a low of minus-7 degrees. Coeur d’Alene had a low of 7 and Pullman had a low of 8.

Air quality in Spokane on Friday rose into the unhealthy category for persons with breathing problems and other health issues. Smoke particles were the primary pollutant.

However, indoor burning was still being allowed.

The National Weather Service has an air stagnation advisory in effect for areas below 3,000 feet in elevation until Monday at 10 a.m.

Forecasters said they expect single-digit lows Friday night because of clear skies creating conditions for radiational cooling. Patchy freezing fog is also in the forecast.

Conditions should remain cloudy through the weekend with possible freezing fog. Highs should be near 25 with lows in the teens and then temperatures should start moderating slowly next week, forecasters said.

The Salvation Army warming center at 222 E. Indiana Ave. was set to be open for homeless persons on Friday night.

Clear skies on New Year’s Eve along with a layer of snow allowed temperatures to drop to near zero. If clouds return, the low temperature will not drop as low as it did Friday morning.

Higher air pressure over the region has allowed cold air to settle in lower elevations.

Friday morning’s weather balloon deployed by the National Weather Service at its office on the West Plains showed a deep temperature inversion over Spokane with the warmest temperature of just below 32 degrees found at 9,000 feet in elevation.

Last year’s low temperature on New Year’s was 8 degrees.