Sun to rule today

A picture-perfect morning should last through the day, with sunny skies and highs in the lower to middle 70s across the region. More sun and even warmer temperatures with highs in the lower 80s are expected on Thursday, but a weak low pressure system off the Pacific Northwest coastline is going to increase the risk of showers and thunderstorms as the weekend approaches, forecasters said. Overnight lows are going to stay mild with temperatures at night in the low to middle 50s through the rest of the week. Higher pressure along the coast of British Columbia today is creating a northerly flow across the Inland Northwest, and dry air is keeping the skies clear. The only risk of showers is along the Canadian border, forecasters said. Thursday is expected to be a repeat of today, only warmer. Friday is likely to be sunny, too. By Friday evening through Sunday, a new source of Pacific moisture along the Oregon coast should raise the risk for showers and thunderstorms to about 30 percent. Any showers that break out have potential for heavy rain, forecasters said. Highs over the weekend should be in the middle 70s to lower 80s. At 7 a.m. temperatures across the region were 50 at Spokane International Airport, 52 in Coeur d’Alene, 48 in Sandpoint, 49 in Pullman and 50 in Cheney.