Weekend weather: Mild November continues

Early November’s mild weather is likely to continue through the coming weekend.

Highs in the upper 50s to lower 60s are forecast for Thursday and Friday.

A potential rain storm on Friday night could lead to cooling temperatures on Saturday and Sunday.

Highs are going to fall on Saturday and Sunday, but Saturday should bring mostly sunny skies and a high of 54. Sunday is likely to be cloudy with a high of 51.

Lows through the period should be in the lower to middle 40s.

A cooling trend is likely early next week when rain chances increase, according to the National Weather Service.

For now, the mild and dry November weather seems more like October.

The extended warmth has prevented snow from accumulating in the mountains, which often see snowpack starting to build before Thanksgiving.

Spokane saw a record high of 61 degrees on Tuesday, breaking the previous record for Nov. 8 of 60 degrees in 1914.

The average temperatures for this time of year are 45 for the high and 32 for the low.

The mild weather has been the result of a strong southwesterly flow drawing warmer air from the south and southwest.

A large low pressure area well off the Pacific coast has been stationary this week, allowing warm air to circulate northward along its leading edge.

Stream flow has been stronger this fall after October set the record for the wettest month in Spokane since 1881 when record keeping began.

The Spokane River on Wednesday was measured at 5,500 cubic feet per second, which is more than double the normal stream flow for the date. Latah Creek is slightly below normal flow, but it responds quickly to weather changes.

Elsewhere, the Sanpoil River was five times normal. The Okanogan River was almost double normal.

To the south, the Grande Ronde and Clearwater rivers were flowing at near normal levels.