Last days of summer to stay warm

Higher air pressure along the western U.S. will keep the Inland Northwest warm and dry over the next several days with record highs possible by the weekend. Highs today should reach the upper 70s in Spokane, moving into the 80s on Thursday and Friday and possibly the lower 90s by Saturday. A strong low pressure system has stalled off the coast and is sending rain into British Columbia and Alaska. That system will creep toward the coast by Thursday, sending waves of high-elevations clouds over the region periodically. However, no rain is expected and sky conditions will continue to have at least some sunshine. The National Weather Service said the forecasted temperatures are unusually warm for late September. Record daily highs for this time of year are in the lower 90s. The normal high in Spokane is 71. Autumn begins on Friday at 2:05 a.m. At 7 a.m., it was 49 at Spokane International Airport, 42 at Felts Field, 45 in Coeur d’Alene and 36 in Deer Park.