Spokane, Washington – Snow is expected to spread across eastern Washington and north Idaho on Tuesday, creating travel challenges from the Palouse into the Spokane metro and increasing concerns for mountain pass travel through Wednesday morning. While snowfall amounts will vary, even light accumulations could affect road conditions during peak commute hours.
According to the National Weather Service in Spokane, confidence is high for heavy snow in the mountains of Idaho and along the Cascade Crest, with moderate to high confidence for snow reaching the lowlands of northeastern Washington and north Idaho. The most uncertain area remains between the Palouse and the Spokane–Coeur d’Alene corridor, where temperatures hovering near freezing could limit accumulations but still produce slick roads.
Snow is expected to increase around midday Tuesday, with impacts becoming more noticeable by the Tuesday afternoon and evening commute. Lower elevations, including Spokane, Pullman, and Lewiston, may see anything from a light coating to a few inches depending on precipitation intensity. In contrast, Lookout Pass and Cascade mountain passes could see significantly heavier snowfall, leading to difficult and potentially hazardous travel.
Drivers are urged to slow down, allow extra travel time, and be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions, especially after sunset. Mountain travel should be delayed if possible. Snow may linger into Wednesday morning, with lingering impacts expected during the early commute before conditions gradually improve later in the day.
