Weekend weather: Trend of warm sunshine lies ahead

A big ridge of higher air pressure is expected to move into the Pacific Northwest starting today and bring a return to sunny mild weather across the western U.S.

The high pressure will shunt a potent Pacific rain pattern into western British Columbia through Sunday.

Highs in Spokane will go from the middle 60s today to the middle 70s on Saturday and Sunday. Some clouds may hang around, but the overall trend is sunshine.

Although lows are expected to again be cool Friday morning, overnight temperatures will moderate into the middle 40s by Saturday morning.

The milder weather should continue on Monday and Tuesday.

North Idaho won’t see temperatures quite as warm as Spokane. Coeur d’Alene will see highs in the middle 60s today going to the lower 70s on Saturday and Sunday.

Sandpoint will flirt with frost tonight with a low pegged at 33, but rebound with milder temperatures over the weekend. Highs should reach the upper 60s by Saturday and Sunday.

Other valley areas near the mountains, including Deer Park, Usk and Chewelah, may see frost with some lows dipping to the upper 20s tomorrow morning.

On the warm side of the region, areas of the lower Columbia Basin could have highs in the lower 80s over the weekend.

Higher elevations in the mountains will see milder weather with highs in the middle 50s with lows in the 40s.