Cool air and wildfire smoke moving in overnight – Kris

If you grabbed a sweatshirt this morning, you’re not alone! It was the coolest start to the day since mid-June, and it’s going to be just as chilly Friday morning.  Expect mostly clear skies overnight with lows in the upper 30s and 40s. Wildfire smoke is streaming into the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene area this evening, and our Air Quality Index might make it into the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” range by Friday morning. A breezy afternoon will help clear that smoke. Otherwise, Friday, expect sunny skies and highs in the mid-70s.

Expect temperatures to climb back into the 80s for a sunny, summery weekend. As wildfires continue to burn across the northwest, the wildcard in this weekend’s weather is the air quality. Meanwhile, a gradual cooling trend is in the forecast for next week with a slight chance of precipitation Wednesday night into Thursday.