706
FXUS66 KOTX 201722
AFDOTX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
922 AM PST WED NOV 20 2024
SYNOPSIS
A WINTER STORM WILL IMPACT THE INLAND NW THIS MORNING AND SLOWLY
TAPER OFF FROM SOUTH TO NORTH THROUGH THE DAY WITH A TRANSITION
FROM RAIN TO SNOW FOR MANY LOWLANDS. UNSETTLED WEATHER IS EXPECTED
THROUGH THE WEEK WITH FRIDAY BRINGING THE NEXT ROUND OF MODERATE
LOWLAND RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW.
DISCUSSION
WINTER STORM WARNINGS FOR WENATCHEE, CHELAN, WATERVILLE, AND
LEAVENWORTH HAVE BEEN CANCELLED, AND THE BLIZZARD WARNING FOR
STEVENS PASS HAS ALSO BEEN DROPPED. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS
FOR THESE CENTRAL WASHINGTON AREAS WILL BE LIGHT FOR THE REMAINDER
OF THE DAY. SNOWFALL RATES HAVE DECREASED AND WARMING THROUGH THE
DAY WILL DECREASE ACCUMULATION EFFICIENCY. EAST WINDS OVER THE
CASCADE RIDGES WILL ALSO RELENT TODAY, AND WE NO LONGER SEE WINDS
AROUND STEVENS PASS MEETING BLIZZARD CRITERIA. THE "BOMB CYCLONE"
WELL OFF THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA REACHED IT'S PEAK INTENSITY
OVERNIGHT AND ITS CENTRAL PRESSURE WILL RISE THROUGH THE DAY.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES HAVE ALSO BEEN DROPPED FOR THE COLUMBIA
BASIN, THE WA/ID PALOUSE, AND SPOKANE. THE BAND OF MOST
SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION HAS PIVOTED NORTH OF THESE AREAS.
THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS, ADDITIONAL SLUSHY LOWLAND
ACCUMULATIONS UP TO AN INCH ARE EXPECTED FOR REPUBLIC, COLVILLE,
METALINE, SANDPOINT AND BONNERS FERRY. THESE NORTHERN VALLEY
COMMUNITIES WILL EXPERIENCE HIGHS IN THE MID 30S, SO ACCUMULATIONS
WILL MAINLY BE LIMITED TO THE MORNING HOURS. FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE
3000 FEET, SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON
AND OVERNIGHT. SHERMAN PASS CAN EXPECT AN ADDITIONAL 3 TO 5
INCHES FROM LATE MORNING INTO EARLY EVENING. ELEVATIONS ABOVE 3000
FEET NEAR SANDPOINT AND BONNERS FERRY WILL LIKELY GET 5 TO 10
ADDITIONAL INCHES FROM LATE MORNING TODAY AND SUNRISE THURSDAY.
/GKOCH
AVIATION
12Z TAFS: A 1-2 PERIOD HOUR OF MODERATE SNOW IS EXPECTED AT KGEG-
KSFF-KCOE BETWEEN 12-15Z. MUCH OF THE REGION WILL SEE IFR
CONDITIONS WITH THE SNOW THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING THEN SEE
IMPROVING VISIBILITY AND CEILING AS SNOW SWITCHES TO LIGHT RAIN AT
THE TERMINALS. RISING SNOW LEVELS TONIGHT AND A WARM FRONT
PASSAGE WILL LEAD TO ADDITIONAL RAINS AT THE TERMINALS BRINGING
IFR/MVFR CEILINGS AROUND 3-9Z.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS:
CONFIDENCE IS HIGH FOR SNOW WITH IFR CONDITIONS THIS MORNING
CONFIDENCE IS ALSO HIGH THAT KMWH-KGEG- KSFF-KCOE WILL SEE
CEILINGS LIFT TO BETWEEN 2-4 KFT WITH MVFR CONDITIONS.
-----------------------
CONFIDENCE DESCRIPTORS:
LOW - LESS THAN A 30 PERCENT CHANCE
MODERATE - 30 TO 70 PERCENT CHANCE
HIGH - GREATER THAN A 70 PERCENT CHANCE
FOR ADDITIONAL PROBABILISTIC INFORMATION FOR NWS SPOKANE AIRPORTS,
PLEASE REFER TO THE AVIATION DASHBOARD ON OUR WEBPAGE:
HTTPS:/WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OTX/AVNDASHBOARD
PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS
SPOKANE 42 34 43 37 48 38 / 80 80 40 80 100 90
COEUR D'ALENE 42 33 43 37 46 37 / 90 90 50 90 100 100
PULLMAN 42 36 45 39 50 37 / 80 70 60 90 100 100
LEWISTON 51 39 49 43 56 40 / 50 40 40 80 90 90
COLVILLE 37 32 40 32 42 33 / 100 80 40 80 100 90
SANDPOINT 36 32 39 35 41 36 / 90 90 70 90 100 100
KELLOGG 40 32 42 38 47 35 / 90 90 80 90 100 100
MOSES LAKE 48 36 45 39 49 36 / 40 60 40 90 90 50
WENATCHEE 39 32 39 36 43 33 / 60 60 40 80 90 40
OMAK 42 32 40 34 45 34 / 100 50 30 80 100 60
OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
ID...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR
NORTHERN PANHANDLE.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING FOR COEUR
D'ALENE AREA.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM PST THURSDAY FOR CENTRAL
PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS.
WA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR
NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING FOR LOWER GARFIELD
AND ASOTIN COUNTIES.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR OKANOGAN
HIGHLANDS-OKANOGAN VALLEY-WESTERN OKANOGAN COUNTY.
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