100 and counting

COEUR d'ALENE — Lane Morris and Grayson Lefever found a great way to cool off on a 93-degree Monday: Stand under cold water at the McEuen Park splash pad.

They're likely to have lot of company this week.

The thermometer is expected to hit triple digits Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, as the hottest days of the year hit North Idaho.

"This is our turn to suffer," said Climatologist Cliff Harris. "The rest of the country has suffered months on end."

It's been more than a year since Coeur d'Alene has had 100 degrees. It averages only one 100-degree day a year. Last year, it had six.

This heat wave is thanks to a high-pressure ridge that Harris said isn't going anywhere.

Even night lows could remain in the 70s.

"I don't see an ending," he said.

The National Weather Service is predicting a high of 103 this week in Coeur d'Alene before it falls back to the 90s by Sunday and high-80s next week.

This kind of heat can be dangerous, particularly to the elderly and children.

Kelly Bourland, injury prevention coordinator at Kootenai Health, said people should be sure to drink plenty of water and stay indoors in air-conditioned areas. This might be a good time to visit the Silver Lake Mall or go to a movie during the day.

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness, Bourland said. It can lead to seizures, loss of consciousness and an inability for the body to cool down.

If you have older neighbors, check on them to be sure they're staying cool and not just relying on fans to keep cool.

Be aware of your pets on these days. Don't walk dogs in the middle of the day, as the hot pavement can burn their paws, and don't leave them in a car. Be sure they have plenty of water.

Katherine Hoyer, spokeswoman for the Panhandle Health District said be careful when exercising outdoors in this heat.

"It’s best to do so early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the peak heat," she wrote.

It's also important to protect your skin while enjoying the outdoors, Hoyer said, as Idaho has one of the highest rates of skin cancer compared to other states in the U.S. and has the highest death rate of melanoma nationally.

She suggested people wear sunscreen, seek shade, wear a hat with a brim all the way around, and if possible wear long sleeves.

The sun can be damaging to your eyes as well, so wearing sunglasses can help protect your eyes and reduce the risk of cataracts, Hoyer wrote.

"Summertime in North Idaho means a lot more time enjoying the water, so it’s important to keep in mind that UV rays reflect off of surfaces like water and sand," she wrote.

Terry Pickel, Coeur d'Alene Water Department director, said the city is ready to produce more water as people keep the faucets open.

"Unless we have a major failure, I am not anticipating any watering restrictions but do advise our customers to water wisely by watering in the early morning or late evening," Pickel said.

He said the city pumped up to 34.7 million gallons a day as of Sunday.

"I would anticipate that in the next few days as the temps soar we will be pushing over 40 million gallons per day," Pickel said.

Last year at this time, the city had already hit a peak day of 42.6 million gallons, pushing its limits at that time of a maximum capacity of 44 million gallons per day.

Pickel said a new well was added to the system last December, which gives the city a maximum capacity of 49 million gallons per day. With the anticipated growth on the west side of the city in the next 10 years, the city is working on an additional well site.

A new transmission main installation project coming up next month will allow the city to transfer one of its largest producing wells, Atlas Well, to the southern half of the city. That project won’t be complete this pumping season due to COVID-19 delays in materials ordered last October.

According to the Coeur d'Alene Interagency Dispatch Center, the fire danger is low in the Coeur d'Alene area.

Still, Harris said he worries that predicted high winds on Friday could create fire hazards.

He said with so little rain lately, it's dry out there.

"We've got to be very careful," he said.