Weekend weather: Cool, damp conditions upcoming

Residents of the Inland Northwest have long recognized that the first of September and the Labor Day holiday can be like turning the page in book as far as weather goes.

This year is stacking up to be like that.

Warm summer weather is going to be replaced by a shot of cool, moist and unstable weather, according to forecasters at the National Weather Service.

Thursday starts out nice enough, with mostly sunny skies and a high in the lower to middle 70s.

But a low pressure system that has been hanging offshore this week is expected to makes its move and send a spell of damp, fall-like weather over the Inland Northwest starting on Thursday night.

A frontal system should cross the region early on Friday with showers and cooler temperatures.

One forecaster described the weather in an online report this way: “Take a jacket with you Friday morning. The chilly temperatures combined with a 10 to 15 mph breeze will make it feel more like late October than early September.”

North Idaho might have a hard time reaching 60 on Friday.

The moisture and cool weather should reduce wildfire risk and help blow away smoke.

Occasional showers Saturday should lead to an increased chance of rain Sunday before a mostly sunny forecast for Monday.

Mountain areas of northeast Washington and North Idaho may see more showers over the weekend, including a chance of thunderstorms.

Higher elevations will be cooler with highs in the 50s and lows near 40.

Columbia Basin weather should be a notch warmer with highs approaching 80 by Monday.

In Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, low temperatures will start out in the 50s, but then drop to the middle 40s over the weekend.