Thunderstorms on tap

Another smoky hot day is expected over the Inland Northwest before a significant change in this summer’s early heat wave arrives.

Highs in the middle and upper 90s are expected across the region before moisture from the south raises the risk of thunderstorms and more wildfires on Friday.

Much of eastern Eastern Washington and the North Idaho Panhandle were placed on a fire weather watch for Friday afternoon and evening.

The watch includes the Okanogan region as well.

The National Weather Service said showers and scattered thunderstorms on Friday will start out with light amounts of rain.

Lightning strikes and gusty winds associated with the storms could start new wildfires, forecasters said.

As Friday evening wears on, the thunderstorms will contain more and more rain.

Spokane has a 30 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms Friday afternoon when the high should be in the lower to middle 90s.

Coeur d’Alene has up to a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms on Friday evening. The high Friday should reach about 90 degrees in the Lake City.

Sandpoint has a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms Friday afternoon through most of Saturday. Highs there will be in the upper 80s Friday to about 82 on Saturday.

Mountain areas will also see thunderstorms.

Two low pressure systems – one from California and another from the Gulf of Alaska – are expected to converge across the Inland Northwest this weekend.

Along with the chance of wet weather, the two low pressure areas will end the string of hot weather that brought 15 days with temperatures of 90 degrees or hotter dating back to June.