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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Temperatures climbing as dry spell persists

Colby Mills of Spokane swims at Boulder Beach on the Spokane River, Spokane, Wash., Thursday, July 12, 2007. People all over the Inland Northwest were trying to keep cool as temperatures soar climb into the high 90s. (Holly Pickett / The Spokesman-Review)
From staff reports

After a brief hiatus from the heat, warmer temperatures are again descending on the region and could last through next week.

Temperatures are forecast to climb to a high of 97 degrees on Tuesday, said KHQ weathercaster Ryan Overton. Smoke from area wildfires is having a slight cooling effect, he said.

“If we do hit 100 degrees – and right now that’s a big if – it would be the second latest date ever in Spokane” to reach that mark, he wrote in an email. The latest date on record for a 100-degree day is Aug. 31.

Temperatures are forecast to lessen slightly after Wednesday, with highs in the mid- to upper 80s. That’s still uncharacteristically warm for this time of year, according to Overton.

“Keep in mind that our average high temperature this time of year is 80 degrees,” he wrote.

“If this model holds – likely it won’t, but it could signal a trend – we could be touching records for nearly a week to kick off September,” he added.

The return to warmer weather caps a long dry spell for Spokane. The National Weather Service last recorded measurable rain on June 28, making Monday the 61st dry day in a row. Already in the top 10 longest streaks on record, the current stretch could soon contend for the top spot. That record was set in 1917 at 73 rainless days.