In brief: Warmer, drier week expected for region

The coming week is expected to be warmer and drier in the Inland Northwest.

“In general, our temperatures in town through the week will look to be mainly in the upper 60s to low 70s,” said Mike Fries, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Spokane. “While that’s a couple degrees below normal, it’s at least in the realm of normal.”

Today is expected to be mostly sunny with a high near 72 in Spokane. Fries said normal daytime temperatures this time of year are around 74 degrees.

There is a 20 percent chance of rain Monday, with thunderstorms possible after 11 a.m.

Tuesday and Wednesday will be mostly sunny, but there’s a 20 percent chance of showers the rest of the week.

Flood warnings continued Saturday for the Okanogan River near Tonasket, Lake Pend Oreille at Hope and the St. Joe River at St. Maries.

“Basically, all of them will be above flood stage for the foreseeable future, except maybe the St. Joe River, which may fall below flood stage by midweek,” Fries said.

Chelsea Bannach

Ready for a splash? Two sites to open

Spokane County’s Northside and Southside aquatic facilities are set to open Friday.

The Northside facility, 18120 N. Hatch Road in Colbert, and Southside facility, 3724 E. 61st Ave., will be open daily 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Fees have been reduced by 33 percent for the 2011 season.

Entry is free for children 2 years old and younger, $2 for children 3 to 5 years old, and $4 for those 6 and older. A discount punch pass is $40.

The Parks Foundation and the Salvation Army have given out more than 1,000 free swim passes for the season. Additional donations would help more children swim for free. To make an online donation, visit www.spokane parksfoundation.org and click on the “Make a Splash” link. Checks may be mailed to Spokane Parks Foundation/Splash, P.O. Box 2021, Spokane, WA 99210.

Spokane’s city aquatic centers will open June 20.

Chelsea Bannach