Spokane, Washington – A cold, gray start greets the Inland Northwest as damp streets, low clouds, and a brisk south wind hint at a sharper chill ahead. Residents heading out early feel that tight, cold edge in the air that signals the season’s next step, and travel could grow tricky as patchy freezing fog returns by Wednesday.
According to the National Weather Service, freezing fog may form between late Wednesday morning and Thursday morning as temperatures dip toward the freezing mark. Visibility could drop quickly, especially along U.S. 2, I-90 near the West Plains, and low-lying pockets stretching toward the Spokane Valley. Drivers preparing for early Thanksgiving travel should allow extra time and keep headlights on at all times for better visibility.
Wednesday brings a brief daytime stretch of calm, though skies stay stubbornly cloudy. Light winds and shallow moisture encourage pockets of fog to linger in sheltered areas. The evening cools fast, allowing more freezing fog to redevelop. Spokane, Cheney, Airway Heights, and Mead may see the thickest patches before sunrise Thursday.
By Thursday, a slow warmup pushes highs toward the upper 40s, offering some relief by midday. Still, the early freeze may leave slick spots on untreated side roads, driveways, and parking lots. Travelers beginning their longer Thanksgiving routes should check conditions along I-90 toward Idaho and keep supplies ready—charged phones, full fuel tanks, and a scraper for early ice buildup.
More updates are expected as the weekend pattern evolves and early winter signals strengthen.
Five-Day Outlook for Spokane, Washington
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, high near 46.
Tuesday Night: Cloudy, light fog possible, low 31.
Wednesday: Patchy freezing fog early, mostly cloudy, high 48.
Wednesday Night: Freezing fog likely, low 31.
Thursday: Partly cloudy, highs near 49.
