Spokane, WA – A heavy gray sky hangs low over the Inland Northwest this morning, the air cold enough to carry the sharp scent of winter. Roads glisten from a light overnight mist, and Thanksgiving travelers heading out early may face patchy fog and slick spots along I-90 as precipitation develops later today.
According to the National Weather Service, Spokane will see increasing clouds with highs near 42°F and a 60% chance of rain developing by evening. That rain becomes steadier on Thanksgiving Day, when temperatures hover near 43°F. The air mass begins to cool Thursday night, and forecasters expect a rain-to-snow mix early Friday, with snow levels dropping near 3,000 feet.
While accumulations are expected to stay light, any freezing drizzle or wet snow could make pre-dawn travel slippery — especially across the West Plains, Cheney, and rural areas north of town. Highs fall to the low 40s Friday, and lows plunge into the mid-20s by the weekend, marking the start of Spokane’s early winter chill.
Looking ahead, national weather models are signaling a much stronger Arctic front pushing into the continental U.S. around December 1, bringing widespread heavy snow and below-normal temperatures across much of the northern tier. That system may influence travel home from Thanksgiving in states east of the Rockies, including the northern Plains and Great Lakes.
Locally, expect cold sunshine and frosty mornings through the weekend, as Spokane transitions firmly into the early-winter pattern.
5-Day Outlook for Spokane:
- Wednesday: Chance of rain, high 42°F
- Thursday (Thanksgiving): Rain likely, high 43°F
- Friday: Rain/snow mix, high 43°F
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, high 38°F
- Sunday: Partly sunny, high 38°F
