The region’s impersonation of the Bahamas is just about over.

First, snow — maybe lots of it.

Then cold. The kind that hurts.

Blame it on a full moon.

Hagadone News Network climatologist Cliff Harris said Wednesday that following expected heavy snowfall Friday and Saturday, frigid temperatures will invade North Idaho next week.

“I think we’re going to go down near zero,” he said. “What a change, huh?”

The change is based on a full moon phenomenon. Harris said he researched local weather data dating back to 1895 and discovered that 77 times in that span, the full moon phase in January was accompanied by snow.

“Pretty good odds, wouldn’t you say?” he said.

Saturday happens to be the second day of the full moon — and the date Harris predicted last fall as having a strong potential for 3 or more inches of snow to fall in his backyard on Player Drive. Knowing January full moons are frequently serenaded by snow led Harris to pick that date, he said.

Customers of Clark’s Diamond Jewelers in downtown Coeur d’Alene have their fingers crossed and their eyes on the Doppler. Clark’s ran a holiday promotion promising to refund customer purchases made between Nov. 22 and Dec. 31 if at least 3 inches of snow falls at Harris’s weather station on Jan. 11. Clark’s officials said Tuesday that more than $500,000 will be refunded if the weather gods comply.

“I had 13 calls in about 20 minutes this morning from excited people,” Harris said. “This is quite a promotion.”

Harris said there’s “at least” a 60 percent chance of 3 or more inches of snow between midnight Friday and midnight Saturday, with some due shortly after midnight and another good chance of heavy snow Saturday afternoon.

In Bonner County, the Sandpoint area could see up to 3 to 7 inches of snow Friday and another 3 to 7 inches on Friday night. Saturday could bring 2 to 4 inches of snow with another 1 to 2 inches on Saturday night as well as more snow on Sunday.

The high temperature for Monday is expected to reach 22, with a high Tuesday near 14.