Cold front kicking up winds on Thursday

A cold front crossing the region on Thursday is going to kick up winds, drop temperatures by about six degrees and heighten fire danger.

The front was expected to arrive overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning.

Along with the weather change will come a chance of isolated thunderstorms in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

“This will be followed by gusty westerly winds Thursday,” forecasters said online on Wednesday.

Southwest winds in Spokane could gust to 25 mph Thursday afternoon.

“After cooler weather Thursday and Friday, the heat will return for the weekend and early next week.”

Highs could get into the lower to middle 90s next week. Warmer locations could see upper 90s, forecasters said.

Thursday should be mostly cloudy early in the day before clearing arrives in the afternoon.

Highs should be in the lower 80s in Spokane on Thursday and Friday, rising to the middle 80s on Saturday and near 90 on Sunday.

Spokane can expect highs at about 93 degrees on Monday and Tuesday.

Coeur d’Alene will be in the upper 70s both days and then warm up to the lower 80s on Saturday and upper 80s on Sunday.

A weak ridge of higher air pressure returns to the region starting on Friday and will provide ample sunshine well into next week.

No rain is expected after the approaching cold front on Wednesday night and Thursday.

Fire risk will be elevated with the cold front due to gusty winds, but the risk is probably not severe enough to warrant fire weather warnings from the weather service.

The exception might be the Kittitas and Wenatchee valleys where cross-Cascade winds could be stronger.

Air quality in the Spokane region was moderately polluted on Wednesday, and the forecast called for the moderate pollution to continue into Thursday.

However, weather forecasters said the winds associated the the incoming cold front would scrub the air of pollutants on Thursday.

Wood smoke, dust and some ozone were in the pollution mix on Wednesday.