Weather service warns of “fire weather” on Saturday

The National Weather Service on Thursday issued a fire weather watch for a combination of wind, warm temperatures and low humidity on Saturday.

A dry cold front is expected to cross the region on Saturday afternoon and evening and whip up winds. Gusts from the southwest could reach 30 mph.

In addition, high temperatures are expected to climb to the upper 80s while relative humidity drops to 11 to 21 percent. Blowing dust is possible.

The fire danger is considered less severe than conditions last Sunday when three major blazes broke out around Spokane and the Inland Northwest.

The watch is in effect for the Spokane region, North Idaho, the Palouse and lower Columbia Basin.