NE winds kicking up through Saturday

A low pressure area that passed south along the Washington coast line today is creating an air pressure difference that will lead to moderate and gusty winds through Saturday. National Weather Service forecasters said the northeast winds will blow about 16 mph this afternoon with gusts to 22 mph. Tonight, steady winds stiffen to 23 mph with gusts to 32 mph. In Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint, even stronger winds are possible with gusts to 46 mph tonight. That is strong enough to cause power outages from falling trees or limbs. Wind advisories were issued until 10 a.m. Saturday for North Idaho and the Okanogan Valley. On Saturday, the pressure gradient starts to relax, but continues with wind gusts to 25 mph in Spokane and 36 mph in Coeur d’Alene and even stronger in the Rathdrum Prairie area. The northerly flow will bring more cold air and sunshine to the region. The low tonight in Spokane should be about 24, dropping to near 20 on Saturday night. Highs will be in the lower 40s. The wind chill, or the feeling of the cold on exposed skin, is predicted to drop to 9 degrees in Spokane and 4 degrees in Coeur d’Alene on Saturday morning. The low pressure area drawing the wind southward is moving from the coast to the Great Basin today. A weak storm impulse on Monday could bring a light layer of snow to lower elevations.