High winds expected on Saturday

Winds gusting to 52 mph or stronger are expected Saturday across a broad swath of the Inland Northwest. Mountain winds could reach 60 to 70 mph. A “red-flag” warning for high fire danger was posted across a wide swath of the Pacific Northwest from the Cascades on the west to Montana in the east, including Idaho and Oregon. The Inland Northwest is under the warning from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. A strong low pressure system is moving onshore today and will send a cold front across the region on Saturday. While heavy rain is expected west of the Cascade crest and along the crest, rain amounts drop off to the east in northern zones where fires are burning. Rainfall amounts to the east across northern zones will be modest. An initial wave of moisture today dropped sprinkles in Spokane, but a more concentrated area of precipitation was seen on radar between Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint close to at least two North Idaho wildfires. National Weather Service forecasters said sustained southwest winds may reach 35 mph in Spokane 38 mph in Ritzville, which are in the bullseye of the expected wind storm. The high winds will extend from north central Washington into the central Idaho Panhandle and northeast Oregon. Gusts in the heart of the storm, including Spokane, could top 50 mph. Coeur d’Alene has forecasted wind gusts of 45 mph. The wind and a lack of substantial moisture in the Columbia Basin could create conditions ideal for a dust storm. In Spokane, the winds are expected to arrive around 11 a.m. and continue into the evening before relaxing. The stronger gusts will be enough to drop trees and large tree branches, resulting in potential power outages and line-sparked fires. Travel on Interstate 90 and U.S. Highway 2 west of Spokane could be stalled if visibility is impaired. In addition, high-profile vehicles may be endangered by cross winds. Rainfall amounts of up to an inch are expected in the northern Cascades of Chelan and Okanogan counties, but lesser amounts of up to 0.4 inches are expected in northern mountain zones east of the Cascade crest. The latest forecast issued about noon today calls for 0.12 inches of rain in Spokane overnight Saturday and Sunday. Elsewhere, rain is expected to fall tonight through Sunday in fire locations near Omak, Lake Chelan and Republic starting tonight. Higher amounts of rain are expected along Lake Chelan. While the rain will help dampen wildfires, the wind associated with the cold front will fan flames. Spokane and Coeur d’Alene should see only light amounts of rain, although there is a chance that a second pulse of moisture will dampen the area on Sunday. Very light rain was falling in Spokane during the noon hour today. Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area officials warned the public to take precautions to be safe during high winds, which can turn lake conditions treacherous for recreational activities, especially boating.