Friday hottest day of the year

Friday was the hottest day of the year so far, but Saturday could bring a heightened wildfire danger.

The high at Spokane International Airport was 97 degrees just before 3 p.m. Felts Field near Millwood hit 99.

The official reading at Spokane International Airport topped a 96-degree high on June 6, which was the hottest day until now.

On Friday, the National Weather Service said a cold front will swing through the region on Saturday and whip up gusty winds in its wake.

Highs should reach the lower 90s in Spokane on Saturday and 88 in Coeur d’Alene.

Forecasters issued a fire danger alert that the agency calls a “red flag warning” for Saturday for the Spokane region, Palouse, Columbia Basin and east slopes of the Cascades.

Forecasters are calling for west winds of 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Spokane may see gusts to around 20 mph.

The winds will be accompanied by low relative humidities of 11 to 22 percent on Saturday.

Temperatures will drop back to the middle 80s on Sunday and 88 on Monday in Spokane.