Rainstorm Saturday to replace summer warmth

A rainstorm fed by moisture from a tropical typhoon is approaching the Pacific Northwest coast and set to strike inland Saturday morning and afternoon.

But not before temperatures soared Friday, reaching a high of 81 degrees at Spokane International Airport.

National Weather Service forecasters said the heaviest rainfall will hit in North Idaho, mountain areas of northeast Washington and the Cascades.

But the Spokane region and areas on the eastern edge of the Columbia Basin could see up to a quarter inch of rain.

The storm is expected to start tapering off Saturday evening, but it will also carry gusty southwest winds with it.

Highs on Saturday should be in the lower 60s. Sunday may reach the lower 70s.

Shower chances drop off on Sunday so that by afternoon, skies should be partly sunny.

However, gusty winds of 25 to 30 mph are likely to persist into Sunday evening.

Mostly sunny weather returns next week with highs in the middle 60s and lows in the 40s.

In a related event, a partial eclipse of the moon occurred after the moon set in Spokane Friday morning.