Heat Sets Record Cooler Weather Predicted After Windy, 102-Degree Day

The Inland Northwest became a big blow dryer on Wednesday as the mercury soared to a daily record of 102 and winds gusted from the southwest.

Fire danger went from bad to extreme as the relative humidity shriveled to a desert-like 12 percent. Gusts hit 32 mph at Spokane International Airport and 37 mph at Felts Field.

Forecasters promised that the source of the wind - an onshore flow from the Washington coast - would continue to spill across the Cascade Mountains today and bring relief by this afternoon.

The forecasted high for Spokane is 89 today, but other locations such as Colville, Lewiston and the Tri-Cities are expected to be warmer than that.

“Temperatures around 90 are going to feel real cool to us,” said Lyle Hammer, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Spokane.

Highs are forecast to remain in the 80s through the weekend. The low tonight should be about 56.

The previous record for Aug. 5 in Spokane was 100 degrees, set in 1904. The mercury hit 102 at the airport just after 1 p.m., about the same time the winds gained strength.

Wednesday was the second day in a row of triple-digit temperatures, and the fourth day in less than two weeks of highs at 100 degrees or hotter.

Few summers have seen more heat.

Only three summers had more days with temperatures of 100 degrees or more. There were six in 1928 and five each in 1938 and 1967.

This July was the second hottest on record in Spokane, and August is taking off where July ended.

There was so much heat over the region Wednesday that the air lost its density.

Higher pressure to the west sent gusts streaming toward the lower pressure caused by daytime heating. At the same time, a weak low over British Columbia added energy to the circulation.

Hammer said hot inland temperatures frequently trigger breezes east of the Cascade Mountains.