Heat wave pours down
Records could fall across Inland Northwest
The calendar says autumn starts today, but the temperature will be anything but fall-like.
Highs in the mid-80s are expected today, followed by record highs or near-record highs in the upper 80s and lower 90s on Wednesday across the Inland Northwest.
Autumn begins at 2:18 p.m. today.
Unusually high air pressure is building across the West and is expected to remain in place over the Inland Northwest through this weekend. Temperatures will fall back into the upper 70s and lower 80s on Friday through Monday.
“The ridge really dominates right through this weekend,” said forecaster Kerry Jones, of the National Weather Service.
The forecast Wednesday for Felts Field near Millwood is 91, which would tie the record set there in 2001.
Elsewhere, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, could see 88 degrees, which is 3 degrees above the record. Sandpoint is expected to reach 85, 2 degrees hotter than the record.
Spokane International Airport is expected to reach 89, which would fall short of the city record of 91 on Wednesday.
Highs today are expected to reach 84 in downtown Spokane, Liberty Lake and Coeur d’Alene; 83 in Post Falls and Spokane Valley; and 82 in Airway Heights.
Wednesday’s highs will be in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Light winds are expected both days. The record high in Spokane is 91 on Wednesday and 93 in Coeur d’Alene.
Lows at night should return to garden-growing weather in the lower to middle 50s through Thursday night in Spokane.
A weak Pacific front is going to graze the region as it moves from west to northeast on Thursday, bringing a push of cooler Pacific air and breezy conditions. However, the change will be marginal, allowing highs to continue above normal in the upper 70s to lower 80s through Monday.
Cold weather early Monday brought the first freezing temperatures of the season in many locations, including 32 degrees in Sandpoint, 30 in Newport and 26 in Deer Park.
The coldest location was Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge south of Cheney, where the thermometer plunged to 24.
Milder overnight temperatures are expected along with the daytime heat.