Clear skies, 70s for the Fourth

Sunny and warm.

That's the prediction for the Fourth of July, as the region breaks free of recent rains, winds and cold.

“We are going to be seeing temperatures getting warmer each day as we go late week and into the late weekend, so I know that is welcome news for the holiday weekend,” said Steve Bodnar of the National Weather Service in Spokane.

People will be able to enjoy parades, picnics and fireworks Saturday with temperatures expected to be around 80 and clear skies. Some winds with gusts up to 20 mph are expected.

“We don't have any appreciable chances of precipitation in the forecast for Friday through Monday right now,” Bodnar said Tuesday.

The low chance of precipitation means grass and brush have time to dry out, increasing the fire risk. 

“The average fire danger across the Panhandle of Idaho is currently moderate,” said Kary Maddox, a fire prevention officer for the U.S. Forest Service. 

She urged the public to stay vigilant around campfires and sparking vehicles and to check wind conditions and possible fire restrictions in the area. 

She also wants to remind the public that “fireworks are always illegal on federal public lands.”

There are still road closures in effect in parts of the Inland Northwest. Lightning Creek Road remains closed above Clark Fork, due to washouts and bridge damage caused during several flood events in December, and the west half of the English Point Recreation Area is temporarily closed during commercial logging operations.