Washington greets the morning under a gray lid as freezing fog curls around streetlights and clings to windshields. The air feels damp and sharp, and visibility fades block by block.
National Weather Service data from Spokane shows temperatures near 28 degrees early, with patchy freezing fog settling across the metro. Moist air and calm winds allow ice crystals to form on roads, sidewalks, and bridges before sunrise.
This is a high-risk travel window. Black ice can develop quickly on I-90, U.S. 2, and neighborhood arterials. Drivers should slow down, use headlights, and leave extra space between vehicles through mid-morning. Pedestrians should expect slick sidewalks and steps.
Conditions improve slightly by late morning as clouds thin and temperatures climb toward the upper 30s. To be fair, sunshine helps some areas, but shaded streets may remain icy longer. Winter still controls the rhythm of the day.
Saturday repeats the pattern. Freezing fog redevelops early, then gives way to mostly cloudy skies and highs near 40. Saturday night stays cold, keeping fog potential alive into Sunday morning.
By Sunday, temperatures reach the low 40s. Patchy fog lingers early, then clouds hold through the afternoon. A weak system approaches Sunday night, bringing a chance of rain and snow levels near 4,000 feet. Snow impacts stay limited to higher elevations, but wet roads return.
Early next week trends milder. Highs climb into the mid-40s Monday, with rain chances tapering by Tuesday. Nights remain cold enough for slick spots where moisture refreezes.
Nationally, winter storms hammer other regions, but Spokane’s threat is quieter and closer to home. Freezing fog can be just as dangerous.
Heading out early today or this weekend? How was visibility where you drove?
Five Day Weather Outlook for Spokane, Washington
- Friday: Freezing fog early, partly sunny, high near 39°F
- Saturday: Freezing fog early, mostly cloudy, high near 40°F
- Sunday: Patchy fog early, mostly cloudy, high near 43°F
- Monday: Chance of rain, high near 44°F
- Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, high near 49°F
