Wildfire smoke will remain the biggest weather concern across Spokane and the Inland Northwest as the new week begins, following a weekend of air quality in the Unhealthy range.
An Air Quality Alert remains in effect until further notice across much of eastern Washington and North Idaho. Smoke will continue to move around the region Monday, and forecast guidance shows another substantial plume of smoke spreading across portions of eastern Washington by Monday evening.
Spokane is forecast to reach around 85 degrees Monday, with southwest winds generally between 5 and 10 mph and no chance of rain. Those relatively light winds will provide only limited help in clearing smoke from the area, meaning air quality could remain poor at times throughout the day.
Anyone sensitive to wildfire smoke should limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity when air quality deteriorates. Even people without underlying health concerns may notice irritated eyes, coughing or difficulty breathing when smoke becomes particularly thick.
The continued smoke comes during an exceptionally dry stretch for Spokane. Sunday marks 41 consecutive days without measurable rain, with the last day receiving at least one-hundredth of an inch coming on June 28. Spokane’s all-time record is 80 consecutive rainless days, set in 2017.
There is also no meaningful rain in the immediate forecast, keeping vegetation dry and allowing fire danger to remain elevated despite relatively mild temperatures.
The good news is that another significant heat wave is not showing up this week. Highs stay remarkably steady, generally in the mid-80s, with 85 Monday, 86 Tuesday, 85 Wednesday, 84 Thursday and 85 Friday. Saturday briefly warms to around 88 before temperatures return to the mid-80s Sunday…