The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued warnings as a strong cold front continues to bring gusty winds throughout the Inland Northwest, creating critical fire weather conditions. Blowing dust has been reported, with gusts reaching up to 50 mph near Ephrata and Moses Lake. Red flag warnings remain in effect until 7 PM this evening due to low humidity levels, which have dropped as low as 11%.
As temperatures plummet overnight, areas in northern valleys could see lows near 25 degrees, leading to frost and freeze conditions on Monday morning. While winds are expected to subside after dark, visibility issues have been reported due to dust storms, especially along I-90, where drivers are advised to pull over if conditions worsen.
Looking ahead, a second cold front is expected on Tuesday, bringing breezy winds from the afternoon through Wednesday, along with slight chances for showers near the Cascades. The remainder of the week will see near-seasonable temperatures, with highs generally in the 60s and potential for additional frost as fall settles in across the region.