Normal warm summer returns

The Inland Northwest is returning to more typical warm summer weather with highs in the middle and upper 80s for the next few days, making it a good time to get outdoors and enjoy the season.

Another hot spell is expected to arrive on Sunday through possibly Tuesday.

An abundance of sunshine is in the forecast. Light winds are likely at times from a series of minor summertime weather systems crossing through the area’s dominating high pressure regime.

With cooler marine air flowing inland, winds near the Cascades and in the western Columbia Basin could cause extreme fire danger, potentially fanning the flames of existing wildfires.

Today’s high in Spokane should reach 88 followed by 87 on Friday and 89 on Sunday. The normal for early August is 86. Lows will be around 60.

On Sunday, higher air pressure strengthens, causing temperatures to rise to about 94 in Spokane.

In Coeur d’Alene, highs will be several degrees cooler at about 84 through Saturday with lows around 60. Sunday’s high should be about 89. Sandpoint’s highs will be about a degree cooler.

In the mountains, highs should run from the upper 60s to 70s.

Forecasters have not indicated any chance of rain or thunderstorms with the exception of southeast Washington and parts of the central Idaho Panhandle east of Lewiston where a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms is in the forecast for the weekend.