SPOKANE, Wash. – A colder, unsettled pattern is expected to bring the season’s first significant round of mountain snow across Washington this weekend, with snow levels plunging by late Sunday and continuing into early next week.
According to the National Weather Service in Spokane, snow levels will hover near 5,000 feet Saturday night before steadily falling to around 4,000 feet by Sunday and as low as 3,000 feet in northern valleys Monday night. Washington Pass faces the best odds of meaningful snow, with a 95–98% chance of at least 1 inch and up to a 40% chance of 12 inches or more. Stevens Pass and Sherman Pass could also see moderate accumulations, while Snoqualmie and Lookout passes are likely to remain wet but not snowy.
Travelers along U.S. 2, U.S. 97, and State Route 20 should be prepared for slushy or snow-covered stretches above 4,000 feet late Saturday through Monday. The weather service advises checking pass conditions before traveling, allowing extra time, and carrying emergency gear. Winds will pick up Saturday night with gusts over 25 mph on exposed ridges, and temperatures will dip sharply into the 30s by early Sunday in Spokane and the Columbia Basin.
By Monday night, some light snowflakes may mix into higher hills around Coeur d’Alene and northern Spokane County before tapering off Tuesday morning. While widespread lowland accumulation is not expected, the sharp temperature drop signals a clear shift toward late fall conditions across the Inland Northwest.
