August comes through with real summer weather

Fine August weather is in store for the rest of the work week with warming temperatures possible by Sunday. Highs today should be about 80 in downtown Spokane under sunny skies. Then, temperatures rise several degrees to the middle 80s, which is normal for this time of year. Lows will be in the 50s. Weather disturbances are moving to the north and south of the Inland Northwest, leaving the region with dry air and light winds. A system off the coast of southeast Alaska is expected to move into central British Columbia and draw winds onshore on Wednesday, which could create a fire hazard in some locales with low humidity and breezy conditions, forecasters said. A strong system of higher air pressure could move northward from the southwestern U.S., and pump hot air into the region starting Sunday and Monday, when highs may approach 90. If the pattern persists into next week, it could result in the hottest temperatures of the season, the National Weather Service said. At 7 a.m., it was 53 degrees at Spokane International Airport, 51 at Felts Field, 52 at Coeur d’Alene and 50 at Deer Park.