Weekend weather: Storms to bring rain, wind and upper mountain snow

A series of Pacific storms through the weekend will bring rain, wind and upper mountain snow with at least one sun break in between storm systems across the Inland Northwest.

A cold front from the next storm is due across the region on Thursday morning, bringing a round of precipitation and breezy conditions in some locations with sun breaks this afternoon.

The snow level Thursday should be between 4,000 and 5,000 feet in elevation. A couple of inches of new snow is possible in the mountains.

In Spokane, rainfall of less than a tenth of an inch is likely with higher amounts in North Idaho.

Highs in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene could reach the lower 50s on Thursday.

National Weather Service forecasters said that Friday should bring partly sunny conditions through much of the day with a high of 56 in Spokane and 53 in Coeur d’Alene.

The second storm should start to appear on the western horizon later on Friday with increasing rain chances through the evening.

This weekend storm is expected to draw a fetch of moisture-laden air from the southwest with the heaviest precipitation holding off until Saturday.

However, the timing of weekend storms may change as the systems approach the region, forecasters said.

A quarter and a half inch of rain could fall on Saturday and Sunday. The storm should ease off Sunday afternoon. Again, gusty winds are possible.

Snow levels could go up to between 4,500 to 6,000 feet in elevation for the Saturday and Sunday storm.

Highs over the weekend at lower elevations should be in the middle to lower 50s in Spokane while Coeur d’Alene should see highs near 50.

Lows should go from the 30s to the 40s through Sunday.

More rain is likely next week.