Weekend weather: Fall averages expected to return this weekend

The high pressure system that brought warm dry weather to the Pacific Northwest for the past six days is going to continue today and Friday before a change starts over the weekend.

Variable clouds may shield the sun at times, but the high today and Friday in Spokane under mostly sunny skies should be in the middle 70s.

Coeur d’Alene will reach the lower 70s.

Those temperatures are still well above the normal high of 63 in Spokane for this time of year.

Both locations will have relatively mild overnight lows near 50.

Weak storm systems Friday night and Sunday will bring a 20 percent chance of rain to both cities and areas surrounding them.

High temperatures will drop into the 60s on Saturday and Sunday. Breezy conditions are possible at times through Sunday.

National Weather Service forecasters said a better chance of rain and cooler temperatures is likely to arrive by Tuesday.

Elsewhere in the region, Sandpoint is expected to see highs in the upper 60s with mostly sunny skies through tomorrow with clouds and a 30 percent chance of rain arriving Friday night through Sunday. Temperatures should drop to near 60 on Saturday and Sunday.

The Columbia Basin to the west will be warmer and drier without a chance of rain over the weekend.

The Palouse region will be have highs in the 70s with sunshine through Friday before clouds and slight chances of rain arrive with cooler conditions Saturday and Sunday.

At higher elevations, weather conditions will be mild through Friday in the mountains of the central Idaho Panhandle, but rain chances increase and temperatures fall Saturday and Sunday.