Thanksgiving holiday travel could be touch and go with rain and snow

Weather forecasters predict mountain snow through this weekend, but a mix of rain or snow is more likely at lower elevations.

Travelers planning to cross any of the region’s mountain passes should be prepared for icy conditions.

Snow elevation levels will start to fall later in the week as temperatures continue to cool to near freezing, especially at night.

“Starting mid- to late week, we are looking at an active pattern” with snow in the mountains, said forecaster Andrew Kalin with the National Weather Service in Spokane.

“Obviously, prepare for potentially treacherous conditions,” he said about traveling during the holiday period. “I would encourage everyone to stay up to date about the latest forecast.”

In Spokane, high temperatures are going to slip into the lower 40s to upper 30s this week while lows hover just above freezing.

An analysis of computer model forecasts shows that fog and drizzle may be the main weather feature on Tuesday with light snow in the mountains. A high near 45 is expected Tuesday in Spokane.

A new Pacific storm arrives on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning and is likely to bring valley rain and mountain snow.

The trend will continue through the weekend with few breaks between storm systems.

Kalin said midday travel offers the best chance of avoiding icy highways, although passes should continue to be snowy through the weekend.

On Monday, Snoqualmie Pass, at 3,022 feet in elevation, reported a bare and wet Interstate 90 with a temperature of 40 degrees.

But Sherman Pass west of Colville had compact snow and ice at an elevation of 5,575 feet.

Kalin said that heading into next week, there is a chance for accumulating snow at lower elevations, but the forecast models are not able to provide any certainty of that occurring so many days in advance.

At Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, a total of 4 inches of snow was reported on Monday.

General manager Brad McQuarrie said the resort needs 14 more inches to be able to open, which may not happen until after Thanksgiving weekend.

“We will open as soon as we can get decent coverage on any of the runs,” he said. “We just need a couple of big storms and we are set.”