Winds gusting today in North Idaho

Wind gusts to 25 mph are being reported in North Idaho this morning after a Canadian low pressure area brushed the region on Monday night. As the southern edge of the low arrived in Spokane on Monday, winds were gusting to 36 mph at Spokane International Airport from 9 to 10 p.m. The winds left a layer of leaf and branch litter across city neighborhoods. A northerly flow today is bringing clear skies and dry air with steady northeast winds to 15 mph at the Spokane airport. Along the Purcell Trench and Rathdrum Prairie in North Idaho, the northeasterly winds have accelerated to between 22 and 25 mph in Post Falls and Sandpoint. The low-lying valleys typically act as funnels for northerly winds. A stretch of sunny weather with highs in the 80s is expected through Sunday. Today’s high in Spokane could reach 80. The high on Wednesday was 81. Temperatures go up through Saturday when a high of 89 is expected in Spokane and then cool to the middle 80s on Sunday. National Weather Service forecasters said the approach of autumn may bring a cold front across the region on Monday, which has potential for winds of 30 mph or greater, enough to build up a dust storm and heighten fire danger. Lows through the weekend will be in the lower 50s. The average high today in Spokane is 77.