Summer heat is on its way as wildfire, lack of rain remains major concern
Lisa Engles tries to entice her dog, Bailey, to join her in Lake Coeur d'Alene on Thursday. With temperatures expected to soar starting this weekend, more people will be headed for cool waters.
BILL BULEY/Press
As temperatures rise, climatologist Cliff Harris is less worried about the temperature than the lack of precipitation this year.
"I'm worried about the fact that we've had so little rain," Harris said. "I do see some rain coming in mid-June, but I don't know how much it's going to be."
Sunday and Monday are predicted to reach temperatures in the low 90s.
"That's not all that unusual, but people are nonchalant about how dry it is. We've gotten 8.5 inches of rain since the first of the year and we should have 14 inches, so we're way behind," he said.
Harris urged caution for North Idaho residents planning on using fireworks for the Fourth of July. He said conditions were dry enough to make them dangerous.
"Be careful because there is tremendous fire danger ahead," Harris said. "We still need rain; that's the big story here. We're in a serious drought, and I'm more concerned about fire."
With the rainfall on its way mid-month, Harris said he hopes it will alleviate some of the fire concerns.
"That'll help at least a little bit," Harris said. "Sometimes if you wait about 90 days, it goes back in the other direction."