Weekend weather: Seasonal temps, clear air expected for next few days

The Inland Northwest is getting a break from wildfire smoke and summer heat for the next few days, although gusty winds may return on Saturday to renew the late summer fire danger.

The National Weather Service said that a northerly flow will push wildfire smoke away from urban areas through early Friday.

Temperatures should remain seasonable with highs in the lower and middle 80s through Saturday with plenty of sunshine.

Heat in the 90s appears to be in the past now that the last month of summer is here.

The expected northeasterly wind should send smoke from the region’s wildfires across the Columbia Basin.

The low-level wind flow will shift in from the south on Friday morning, initially with a light breeze.

Then on Saturday, a low pressure area passing through British Columbia could kick up southwest wind gusts across the region, raising fire danger once again.

Steady winds of 15 to 20 mph are expected from the southwest to west-southwest. Gusts could range up to 25 to 30 mph in more wind-prone areas, forecasters said.

The greatest fire concerns will be in the Palouse region of Washington and the Spokane area, forecasters said.

More clouds will be in the forecast on Saturday as a mostly dry cold front crosses the region on Saturday.

Winds should die down on Sunday, but highs are going to fall back to the upper 70s in Spokane.

In Coeur d’Alene, temperatures will range from the upper 70s on Thursday to the lower 80s on Friday and Saturday to the upper 70s on Sunday.

Lows through the period will be in the 50s across the region.

Normal temperatures for this time of year in Spokane are 81 for a high and 54 for a low.