El Nino is officially dead, according to local climatologist Cliff Harris, and temperatures could rise into the low 60s by the weekend. "We are in a pattern of extremes," Harris said. "I wouldn't be surprised to see afternoon temperatures in the low 60s - we are not breaking any records - but that's about 7 degrees above normal." For the past few days we have been about 9 degrees below normal, and that is going swing to the other extreme. "By this time next week, we should be seeing some rain and possibly snow out of the Gulf of Alaska," he said, adding that will start a new six-week cycle of wetter-than-normal weather. A cold front will move into the region starting Wednesday and colder temperatures will follow that, he said. The cold wet weather should last through mid-to-late April/Jeff Selle, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.