Weather: Mountains offer relief from persistent fog

There’s one way to escape the persistent fog and low clouds over the Inland Northwest: Head to the mountains.

Forecasters said fog and drizzle are going to be a constant problem over portions of the Inland Northwest through Saturday.

In the mountains, the forecast calls for a mix of clouds and sun through Saturday. Snow chances increase as early as Saturday night.

At lower elevations, the fog-cloud shield is expected to drift around the region with some locales seeing clearing at times while others are socked in.

A new Pacific storm is anticipated to arrive on Sunday and should have enough lift energy and wind to scour the damp and cool layer of air nestled into the Columbia Basin and adjacent northern valleys.

The storm will also bring a new shot of snow to the upper elevations. Moisture within the storm is being drawn northward from the subtropics.

Forecaster Matt Fugazzi said he expects snow levels during the Sunday storm to hover at 4,000 feet, which means that ski lodge areas would remain at or above the snow line.

While upper elevations are seeing better snow coverage, the areas near the lodges could use more.

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park reported just 6 inches of snow at the lodge on Wednesday with 43 inches on top.

Also in the mountains, temperatures are going to cool down as a northwesterly flow sets up over the region. Highs should be in the 30s with lows in the 20s. Highs had been in the 40s this week.

Light snowfall may continue in the mountains early next week.

Forecasters said there is a small chance that an arctic air mass could swing over the region later next week.