High winds caused a dust bowl and wreaked havoc on power lines in Kootenai County on Monday.

"The wind is picking up dust from Washington and blowing it this way," said Ralph Paul of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

Climatologist Cliff Harris said the highest gust he recorded in Coeur d'Alene as of 5 p.m. was 42 mph, but it may have gotten higher near Rathdrum, where there were reports of downed trees.

"This was caused by a low-pressure system aloft, but we expected it to come in," Harris said. "It's just Ma Nature's way of shaking us up."

Several downed power lines were reported throughout the county, including one that caused a small fire on Delcardo Bay on the west side of Lake Coeur d'Alene. Part of a tree fell on a power line in front of Hauser City Hall.

As of 5:30 p.m., about 200 of Avista's North Idaho customers, mostly in the Sandpoint area, were without power.

The dust storm closed Highway 261 in eastern Washington between Ralston and Ritzville for more than two hours on Monday afternoon. Blowing dust created "zero visibility" and caused a two-car collision just south of Ritzville, according to Washington State Patrol.

With the wind came cooler temperatures.

Monday's high was 78 - 10 degrees cooler than Sunday's high.

Temperatures in the 70s are expected again today - without as much wind - before it warms up again.

"We should be back in the 80s and maybe even near 90 by Thursday," Harris said.

Rain is not in the forecast for the near future, he said.