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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Wind gusts near 40 mph expected after midnight

Storm to follow on heels of near record warmth

A potentially potent wind storm is headed toward the Inland Northwest with thunderstorms possible in parts of the region. The National Weather Service earlier today posted a hazardous weather outlook for wind across the Inland Northwest. Later today, forecasters posted a wind advisory for the Palouse region and Snake River gorge south of Lewiston for wind gusts to 45 mph. The storm is expected to sweep in from the west arriving in Spokane about 11 p.m. and carrying rain and the winds with it. Southwest winds will be on the rise prior to midnight, becoming gusty during the early morning hours and continuing into mid-afternoon Saturday. Spokane could see peak wind gusts of 34 to 39 mph. Rain is likely to accompany the storm, which is sending a cold front across the region. Thunderstorms are mostly to occur to the north and south of Spokane, including the central Panhandle area of Idaho. Spokane could see between a tenth and a quarter inch of rain by morning, or more if a thunderstorm develops. The storm arrives quickly following the warmest day of the year so far in the Inland Northwest. Spokane International Airport reached 70 degrees at 3 p.m., which is two degrees shy of the daily record of 72 in 1889. Spokane saw a high of 67 on March 10.