Inland Northwest Washington Faces Heat and Smoke, Cooler Weather Expected Next Week

Monday's fire weather conditions will be critical, with wind speeds of 10-20 mph gusting to 30 mph and relative humidity levels dropping.Photo byChris JohnsononUnsplash

The Inland Northwest is experiencing high temperatures in the 90s today, with skies becoming increasingly smoky due to wildfire smoke from Oregon and Central Idaho. The National Weather Service in Spokane warns of a cooling trend and potential for showers later in the week.

A weak weather system moving through the region today and tomorrow brings a 10-20% chance of thunderstorms, primarily in the Cascades and southeastern Washington/North Idaho. Thunderstorms in the Cascades are expected to produce wetting rains, while faster-moving storms in southeastern Washington and North Idaho could exacerbate wildfire risks.

Monday's fire weather conditions will be critical, with wind speeds of 10-20 mph gusting to 30 mph and relative humidity levels dropping to 15-25%. Eastern Washington, including the Palouse and Eastern Columbia Basin, faces a 60-90% chance of critical fire weather conditions.