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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hot air rises to upper 90s today, Tuesday

Tuesday’s highs are expected to be hot again. The temperature soared to 93 at Spokane International Airport on Sunday and was at 93 this afternoon just before 4 p.m. Highs in the middle to upper 90s are forecast across the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas with triple digits likely in the Columbia Basin. Hanford was 100 degrees at 3 p.m. Forecasters had been calling for 97 at the Spokane airport and 98 in downtown Spokane while Spokane Valley and Coeur d’Alene should come in at 96. A strong ridge of higher air pressure in the upper atmosphere has become anchored over the spine of the Rocky Mountains, allowing the hot air to remain fixed over the region, National Weather Service forecasters said. But the western side of the ridge will become vulnerable to impulses of moist air from the southwest that will bring some clouds and could erupt into thunderstorms Wednesday and Wednesday night. Otherwise, forecasters said that the region can expect continuing hot weather with highs easing back to the lower and middle 90s later this week. Lows will be in the 60s to upper 50s later in the week. A heat advisory was issued for the lower Columbia Basin and Yakima Valley. The advisory runs from Walla Walla on the east to Ellensburg and Kittitas County to the northwest. The high today in Pasco and Kennewick should reach 102. Moses Lake should get to 99. Normal temperatures today in Spokane are 84 for a high and 56 for a low.