High clouds holding back sunshine

High-altitude clouds have moved across the Inland Northwest this morning, partially blocking the sun on what should otherwise be a nice summer day. High temperatures are expected to climb to near 80 degrees under partly sunny skies with light northeast winds. The weather is expected to stay dry through daytime hours. A new low pressure area along the Pacific Northwest coast is moving onshore today, bringing the higher clouds today and a new risk of showers or thunderstorms starting tonight through Friday. The chance of precipitation is 20 percent overnight. The main chance of precipitation comes after 11 a.m. on Thursday when a pulse of moisture embedded in the low arrives across the region. Highs should be mild in the upper 70s on Thursday when forecasters are giving the low a 40 percent chance of bringing rain showers with mostly cloudy skies. Improving but cooler weather is seen by Friday with a 20 percent chance of showers and highs in the lower 70s, and again mostly cloudy. The weekend should be mostly sunny and mild with highs Saturday in the lower to middle 70s moving to the middle and upper 70s by Sunday. Yet another low is being shown on computer forecast models arriving in the region on Monday night and Tuesday, but the risk of showers is currently pegged at only 20 percent. At 7 a.m. today, it was 57 at Spokane International Airport and Felts Field, 55 in Coeur d’Alene, 59 in Deer Park and 60 in Pullman.