Crisp blue skies bring highs in 80s

Two more sunny days of temperatures in the lower and middle 80s are expected before the region begins heating up on Sunday. A frontal system that moved south from Canada on Thursday will be swinging away from the region today, leaving behind crisp blue skies and typical August temperatures. Highs may reach 85 in downtown Spokane, 81 in Spokane Valley and 83 in Coeur d’Alene. Rain showers overnight brought 0.02 inches of rain to Spokane International Airport. After a wet spring that saw 4 inches of rain fall, the measuring gauge at the airport has had just 0.42 inches of rain since June 21. A heat wave is forecasted starting Monday and continuing at least through Wednesday and possibly longer. Highs on Sunday should be in the upper 80s to lower 90s and then increase several degrees each day, peaking at about 95 to 97 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday. A large area of higher air pressure in the eastern Pacific Ocean will move along the West Coast, allowing a northwest flow in the upper levels of the atmosphere. The circulation pattern may allow smoke from fires in central British Columbia to flow into the region. That could bring a repeat of the smoky skies during the first week of August when a similar weather pattern was in place. At 7 a.m., it was 59 at Spokane airport, 57 at Felts Field and Deer Park, 55 in Coeur d’Alene and 54 in Pullman. A frontal system that moved south from Canada on Thursday will be swinging away from the region today, leaving behind crisp blue skies and typical August temperatures. Highs may reach 85 in downtown Spokane, 81 in Spokane Valley and 83 in Coeur d’Alene. Rain showers overnight brought 0.02 inches of rain to Spokane International Airport. After a wet spring that saw 4 inches of rain fall, the measuring gauge at the airport has had just 0.42 inches of rain since June 21. A heat wave is forecasted starting Monday and continuing at least through Wednesday and possibly longer. Highs on Sunday should be in the upper 80s to lower 90s and then increase several degrees each day, peaking at about 95 to 97 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday. A large area of higher air pressure in the eastern Pacific Ocean will move along the West Coast, allowing a northwest flow in the upper levels of the atmosphere. The circulation pattern may allow smoke from fires in central British Columbia to flow into the region. That could bring a repeat of the smoky skies during the first week of August when a similar weather pattern was in place. At 7 a.m., it was 59 at Spokane airport, 57 at Felts Field and Deer Park, 55 in Coeur d’Alene and 54 in Pullman.