Weekend weather

Weather conditions conducive to wildfire are likely to persist for the next several days, but there is a hint that a change is due later next week.

A cold front pushing into the region from the northwest is likely to aggravate fire problems today through Friday.

A “red flag” warning for dangerous fire weather is in effect through 5 p.m. Friday.

Southwest winds gusting to about 28 mph in Spokane tonight may kick up dust and provide additional momentum for spreading wildfires.

Areas in North Central Washington and the upper Columbia Basin may see stronger winds.

An air quality alert in effect since Monday could be dropped if the cold front blows wildfire smoke out of the region, but forecasters said they think the smoke problems will persist through the day on Saturday.

On a positive note, the cold front from the northwest is not likely to draw much moisture into it, which will limit the risk of new lightning strikes. The chance of rain or showers in the northern mountains is in the 20 to 30 percent range on Thursday night and Friday.

The front that is bringing the cooler weather will also cause humidity to fall with lows in the upper 40s on Friday and Saturday nights.

In the meantime, highs today should reach the middle and upper 80s across the Inland Northwest before dropping into the 70s on Friday and Saturday.

Warm weather returns with highs in the middle and upper 80s on Sunday and Monday.

The U.S. Climate Prediction Center is calling for below-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation in its outlook for the next seven to 13 days.

Computer forecast models are hinting that an Alaskan low pressure area may move southward and create a pattern that would dampen the explosive fire weather of recent weeks.