Winds die down, but a few gusts coming

Winds died down overnight in the Spokane region after gusts to 48 mph at Spokane International Airport on Monday left residents without power and firefighters scrambling. Forecasters said this morning’s cooler temperatures will continue through the day with highs about 10 degrees below normal in the lower 70s. Light to moderate winds will kick up later today as the pressure gradient that brought Monday’s wind storm reappears with gusts to about 22 mph in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. Mostly sunny skies are forecast for the urban areas, but there is a chance of showers to the north near the Canadian border. Highs warm on Wednesday to the upper 70s and then to the 80s on Thursday through Monday. Lows will go from the upper 40s this morning to the 50s later this week. Fires on Monday were reported near Medical Lake, on Beacon Hill in Spokane and in Coeur d’Alene. Outside the Spokane area, fires were burning near Clarkston and Wenatchee. At 7 a.m., it was 50 at Spokane International Airport with a south-southwest wind of 8 mph.