Sun may bring first 70-degree temp

Bright sunshine pushed thermometers in the Spokane region to 70 degrees for the first time since last October. The high on Monday at Spokane International Airport was 70. Coeur d’Alene also saw a 70-degree reading. Felts Field in East Spokane went to 72. The last time Spokane saw a high of 70 degrees or warmer was last Oct. 11 when the temperature reached 71. This is also shaping up to be the warmest early spring since 2007 when the temperature rose to 6o or warmer on eight days from March 17 to April 15. The warmest early spring on record was in 2004 when the temperature during that period rose to 60 or more on 18 days. Forecasters said today could be the warmest day of the week with a large area of higher air pressure anchored over Washington state. Children with families flocked into Riverfront Park as spring school break coincided with the warm up. Out in the neighborhoods, residents were out in their yards getting lawns and gardens spruced up and going for the season. A mild low pressure system is going to graze the region on Tuesday and could bring a slight chance of thunderstorms to mountain areas north of Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. Mostly sunny skies are forecasted for Spokane on Tuesday and Wednesday with a high of 67 on Tuesday and 64 on Wednesday. Lows should be in the upper 30s to lower 40s. Clouds and a chance of showers return starting on Thursday and continuing on Friday with highs still in the 60s. This weekend is likely to be cooler with highs around 55 and chances of showers.