October weather to stay mild

The lingering warm weather this month is expected to continue through the weekend, although a weak cold front will likely bring an increase in clouds and a minor chance of showers over the weekend.

National Weather Service forecasters are calling for highs in the lower to middle 70s through Saturday.

Sunshine is expected Thursday and Friday, but clouds are going to move into the region Friday night and Saturday.

Dry northeast winds will flow into the region today and tonight, peaking at around 14 mph today.

The flow of weather will turn more southerly as the weekend arrives. Friday should be the warmest day of the period with highs in the middle 70s.

A cold front is expected to cross the Cascades on Saturday afternoon and weaken as it moves over Spokane into North Idaho.

This frontal system should bring mainly clouds with a slight chance of showers and light westerly winds unlike last weekend’s stronger gusts.

Temperatures are likely to fall into the 60s on Sunday, which is above normal for mid-October.

Mostly cloudy skies are forecast for Sunday and Monday.

In Coeur d’Alene, weather could be a few degrees cooler than Spokane.

Another weak frontal system may arrive on Sunday evening and bring another risk of showers.

Highs next week should be in the lower to middle 60s with lows in the 40s. No frost is expected into next week.

The average high temperature in Spokane for the middle of October is near 60 degrees and falling with the average low in the upper 30s.

Through Oct. 13, the average temperature this month has been 7.3 degrees above normal.

October in Spokane has seen only 0.22 inches of rain at Spokane International Airport, which is 0.12 inches below normal.

September saw a half inch of rain, which was 0.15 inches below normal.