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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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A wet, but warm Thanksgiving on the way

Water drops streak down glass in front of orange traffic lights and yellow car lamps during a rain shower, Sept. 19, 2017, at the corner of Washington Street and Buckeye Avenue. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
By Mike Prager mikeprager15@gmail.com(509) 459-5454

More stormy weather is due over the Inland Northwest during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, but forecasters said it should not cause any serious travel problems in the lowlands or in the mountains.

A mild southwesterly flow has set up across the region in a system similar to an atmospheric river of clouds and moisture from the subtropical latitudes in the Pacific Ocean.That may allow for a record high on Thanksgiving Day, said Joey Clevenger, forecaster for the National Weather Service in Spokane.

“Pass travel should be OK,” he said. “Snow levels should be rising.”

In Spokane, a forecast high on Thursday of 57 degrees would break the record for Thanksgiving Day. The record is 55 degrees, reached in three years on Nov. 29, 1883, Nov. 26 in 1998, and Nov. 27 in 2014.

As much as a quarter to a half inch of rain could fall in Spokane on Tuesday followed by a 10th to a quarter inch on Wednesday. Showers are likely on Thursday with drying weather on Friday and Saturday before a new, but weaker storm arrives late Saturday.

Return trips over the passes should be uneventful, although some slush and icy patches are likely, Clevenger said.

According to the weather service forecast discussion on Monday, “The main feature is an atmospheric river that bombards the Pacific Northwest coast this week with (rain amounts) near an inch reaching east of the Cascades Wednesday into Thursday. A strong warm front lifts through the region on Wednesday with increased southern winds. The Inland Northwest remains in the warm sector Wednesday night into Thursday with snow levels above 8,000 feet regionwide. Then a cold front arrives Thursday afternoon as the rain ends and breezy winds develop.”

The excess of rain is expected to melt some snow accumulation and raise small streams, but flooding is not likely.

A persistent storm flow could bring more rain and mountain snow by late Saturday, forecasters said.

In the mountains, early season snow looks good with nearly 2 feet of snow at the lodge at Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park. Clevenger said the snow is are likely to survive any short period of rain and mild air. Mt. Spokane said on its website Monday that the early snow led to the mountain’s earliest opening ever. It plans to operate on Friday through Sunday.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort reported its earliest opening in 20 years during the weekend when 39 inches of snow was measured on the mountaintop Monday, including 4 new inches of snow by morning. Schweitzer will operate on Friday through Sunday.

At 49 Degrees North near Chewelah, snow measured 4 feet at the summit Monday where lifts will be running on Friday through Sunday.

Silver Mountain near Kellogg had 30 inches of snow and was planning to be open on Friday through Sunday.

Lookout Pass with similar snow amounts will be open on Thursday through Sunday.

So far this month, Spokane has seen about 1.5 inches of precipitation.