Blistering heat easing down to mid-90s

DAVENPORT — After two days of blistering heat, rural areas of Eastern Washington will “cool” down into the mid-90s over the next several days.

According to the National Weather Service a few records fell around Eastern Washington.

Unofficially at press time, the only July 10 record to fall in Lincoln County was in Wilbur, where the temperature hit 101 degrees. At press time, meteorologists didn’t have the previous record high available.

That was 4 degrees higher than July 9, when the temperature hit 97. The record high for July 9 is 100, set in 1985.

Official temperatures were not yet available for Davenport or Harrington at press time Wednesday.

For Davenport, the July 9 record high of 99 was set in 1968 and the July 10 record is 99, set in 1985.

Harrington’s record highs for both days is 100 degrees, set in 1975 and 1985.

Odessa fell short of a record this week, hitting only 100 degrees. The record high for Odessa is 103 degrees for July 9 and 10, respectively set in 1952 and 1926.

Ritzville, too, fell short of breaking a record. The July 9 record of 102 was set in 1985 and the July 10 record of 104 was set in 1975.

This past Tuesday, Ritzville topped out at 100 degrees. On Wednesday, the high was 102.

Record-breaking temperatures were posted Wednesday, though, in Spokane, Wenatchee and Lewiston.

At 104 degrees, Spokane broke a record of 102 set in 1975.

To the west, Wenatchee, too, set a record at 105 degrees. That broke a record of 101 in 1975.

And southeast of us, Lewiston, Idaho, hit 108 degrees, topping the record of 106 set in 1975.

Omak, too, hit 108 degrees Wednesday, tying a record sent 98 years ago, in 1926.

The heat wave was expected to give way to slightly lower temperatures the rest of the week, and an excessive heat warning that had been in place since Saturday was set to expire Wednesday night, July 9.

According to the National Weather Service, highs for Davenport are forecast to be about 95 Thursday and Friday, 96 on Saturday and 97 on Sunday.

Overnight lows are forecast to dip in to the lower-60s over the weekend.