Weekend weather: Cloudy and windy conditions

Two more warm and sunny days are expected across the Inland Northwest before a low-pressure system turns conditions cloudy and windy on Saturday.

The National Weather Service is calling for highs in the upper 70s today in Spokane and lower 70s on Friday with plenty of sunshine as this year’s dry weather continues.

A low-pressure system is forecast to move onshore late Friday into Saturday and create conditions ripe for northeast wind gusts to 23 mph in Spokane starting late Saturday morning and extending into the evening.

Coeur d’Alene should see temperatures a few degrees cooler than Spokane with northeast wind gusts Saturday peaking at about 28 mph.

The winds are likely to persist in North Idaho into Sunday, although at lower intensity.

Forecasters warn that mountain areas could see wind gusts in the range of 40 to 50 mph and portions of Eastern Washington and North Idaho may be vulnerable to gusts to 40 mph.

In Sandpoint, highs on Thursday and Friday should be in the lower 70s with a mix of sun and clouds.

The low is also bringing a chance of showers starting Friday night, with the highest chances to the south.

Forecasters say that more dry and sunny conditions will return to the region as the low exits the Inland Northwest.

The weekend low should also scour out lingering wildfire smoke that has moved across the Spokane area in recent days and has been more concentrated in North Idaho.

While highs Sunday will be in the 60s across the region, the temperatures will rebound Monday and Tuesday. Spokane should get back to the lower 70s next week, which is above normal for early October.

Lows will be in the 40s.

Normal temperatures are in the middle 60s for highs and lower 40s for lows.