Spokane, WA – Eastern Washington may see a mix of cold rain, snow, and wintry travel conditions during the Thanksgiving holiday window, as new federal long-range forecasts keep the region in a near-normal precipitation pattern, giving the Inland Northwest roughly a 50–50 chance of measurable snow between November 23 and November 29.
According to the Climate Prediction Center’s 8–14 Day Outlook released Saturday, Eastern Washington sits on the colder side of a developing West Coast trough. While the precipitation signal isn’t strongly above normal, temperatures across the Columbia Basin, Palouse, and Spokane region are expected to run cold enough that any incoming system could fall as snow—especially early and late in the day.
Spokane, Cheney, and the surrounding suburbs hold one of the better chances for early-season snowfall. Even light precipitation in this region during late November can create slick roads along I-90, particularly during morning and evening commute hours.
Farther south, the Palouse—including Pullman and Colfax—sits in the same near-normal zone. Valley temperatures may hover near freezing at times, creating a classic rain–snow mix scenario if a system tracks inland from the Pacific Northwest coast.
Yakima, Ellensburg, and the Kittitas Valley also remain candidates for early-season snow or mixed precipitation. Cold overnight lows could allow accumulating wet snow along I-82 and I-90 if moisture arrives at the right time.
The Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland) lean slightly warmer due to lower elevation, meaning cold rain is more likely. Still, a brief mix can’t be ruled out if a deeper push of cold air arrives from the north.
Thanksgiving week brings elevated travel volume across eastern Washington’s major corridors, including I-90, I-82, and US-395. Even light snow can quickly lead to reduced visibility and slower speeds.
Forecasters expect sharper details early next week as short-range models begin resolving individual storm systems affecting the Inland Northwest.
