Weekend weather: Warm days aren’t here to stay

The Inland Northwest is going to see its warmest days of the year as the weekend arrives, but a low pressure area is moving this way by Saturday to cool things down and bring a small chance of showers on Sunday.

In downtown Spokane, high temperatures under sunny to mostly sunny skies should reach 79 today and 80 on Friday.

Similar warm readings are expected across the region.

National Weather Service forecasters said on Wednesday that the warmth will reach into the mountains and accelerate the spring snow melt, prompting this statement:

“Rivers and streams will be running fast and cold for the next several weeks. People in or near area lakes, rivers and streams should remain cautious to the dangers of cold springtime waters,” forecasters said.

The strong high pressure ridge that’s bringing the warm air could result in temperatures in the middle 80s in the lee of the Cascades and the heart of the Columbia Basin through Friday.

North Idaho should see highs in the upper 70s through Friday.

Mountain areas should go from the 60s through Friday to 50s on Saturday and Sunday.

The warm high pressure ridge is expected to weaken under the approach of a Pacific low, causing temperatures to drop to the 60s in most locations. Breezy winds could accompany the change on Friday evening just as the Bloomsday weekend gets started and during the day on Saturday.

Bloomsday looks decent, however. An overnight low of 42 should rebound to 47 by 8 a.m. and then 56 degrees by 11 a.m. with an afternoon high of 62.

Southerly winds of 7 mph are forecast for the start of the race.

A 30 percent chance of showers will hover over the festivities.

Coeur d’Alene could see a 20 percent chance of showers Saturday and 40 percent chance of showers on Sunday. In Sandpoint, the risk of showers will be slightly higher.

Similar shower chances are seen in Northeast Washington on those days.