279
FXUS66 KOTX 091812
AFDOTX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1112 AM PDT THU OCT 9 2025
KEY MESSAGES
- DRY THROUGH TODAY.
- BREEZY ACROSS COLUMBIA BASIN AND UP OKANOGAN VALLEY FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY.
- UNSETTLED WEATHER FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH REGIONWIDE
CHANCES FOR PRECIP AND POTENTIAL FOR LIGHT MOUNTAIN-PASS
SNOW. SNOW LEVELS FALLING TO NEAR 4000 FEET SATURDAY NIGHT
ONWARD.
- COOLER TEMPERATURES SATURDAY THROUGH NEXT WEEK WITH HIGHS IN
THE 50S AND LOWS IN THE 20S AND 30S.
SYNOPSIS
DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THURSDAY. CLOUD COVER AND PRECIP
CHANCES EXPAND ACROSS THE REGION FRIDAY. THE WEEKEND BRINGS
UNSETTLED WEATHER AND CONTINUED PRECIPITATION INCLUDING SNOW IN
THE MOUNTAINS.
DISCUSSION
THURSDAY: FAIRLY QUIET WEATHER CONTINUES AS A CLOSED LOW SETTLES
IN OFF THE OREGON COAST SPINNING WEAK WAVES OF MOISTURE UP
THROUGH THE NORTHWEST. MOST OF THE PRECIP FROM THESE WAVES WILL
STAY WEST OF THE CASCADES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LIGHT RAIN OVER
THE CASCADE CREST, EAST SLOPES, AND OKANOGAN FOOTHILLS. CLOUD
COVER AND PRECIP WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES ON THE COOLER SIDE IN
THE 60S FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED AREAS, BUT FOR THE REST OF THE
REGION FURTHER EAST, AFTERNOON HIGHS THURSDAY WILL RISE INTO THE
MID TO UPPER 70S MAKING IT THE WARMEST DAY OF THE FORECAST
PERIOD. SMOKE AND HAZE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE WENATCHEE
AREA FROM THE LOWER SUGARLOAF AND LABOR MOUNTAIN FIRES.
FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY: CLOUD COVER AND CHANCES FOR PRECIP EXPAND
EASTWARD ACROSS THE REGION ON FRIDAY AS THE OFFSHORE LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM BEGINS TRACKING INLAND. AFTERNOON HIGHS FRIDAY
WILL BE A FEW DEGREES COOLER THAN ON THURSDAY IN THE LOW 70S
WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE LOW. A PUSH OF NORTHERLY AIR DROPPING
DOWN FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA IS IN THE FORECAST FOR SATURDAY,
RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL COOLING AND LOWERING OF SNOW LEVELS
ACROSS THE REGION. FOR THE CASCADES, OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS, AND
NORTH ID, SNOW LEVELS WILL FALL NEAR 4000 FEET SATURDAY NIGHT
ONWARD. ELEVATIONS ABOVE 4000 FEET CAN EXPECT A MIX OF SNOW AND
RAIN THROUGH THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE GROUND IS
STILL WARM THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON, SO THAT WILL HELP TO LIMIT
SURFACE ACCUMULATION, THOUGH MOUNTAIN PASS TRAVELERS SHOULD
STILL CHECK PASS REPORTS FOR THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS PRIOR TO
TRAVELING. AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 50S SATURDAY ONWARD
AND OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL RANGE FROM THE UPPER 20S TO MID 30S.
TOTAL RAIN AMOUNTS FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY RANGE FROM 0.10-0.20
INCHES ACROSS THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA BASIN (MOSES LAKE,
RITZVILLE), 0.20-0.50 INCHES FOR MOST VALLEY LOCATIONS ACROSS
NORTHERN AND FAR EASTERN WA (OKANOGAN VALLEY, COLVILLE, DEER
PARK, PULLMAN), AND 0.50-1.00+ INCHES ACROSS THE ID PANHANDLE,
CASCADE CREST, AND NORTHERN WA HIGHLANDS. IN ADDITION TO COOLER
TEMPERATURES AND PRECIP CHANCES, BREEZY SOUTH/SOUTHWESTERLY
WINDS ARE EXPECTED FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ACROSS THE COLUMBIA BASIN
AND UP THE OKANOGAN VALLEY WITH SUSTAINED SPEEDS OF 15-20 MPH
AND GUSTS OF 25-30 MPH.
TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY: BY TUESDAY, THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE
SHIFTS SOUTH AND WEAKENS, MARKING THE BEGINNING OF A DRYING
TREND. COOL TEMPERATURES LOOK TO STICK AROUND WITH HIGHS STAYING
IN THE 50S AND LOWS IN THE UPPER 20S AND 30S. /RF
AVIATION
18Z TAFS: EXPECT SMOKE AND HAZE AT KEAT AND OTHER AIRFIELDS NEAR
FIRES, BUT GENERALLY VFR CONDITIONS ELSEWHERE ACROSS EASTERN WA
AND NORTHERN ID. LIGHT WIND GUSTS TO AROUND 10-15KTS FOR
KGEG/KSFF/KCOE THROUGH 22-00Z. INCREASING CHANCES FOR
PRECIPITATION AFTER 12Z FRIDAY.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: HIGH CONFIDENCE
IN VFR CONDITIONS ACROSS THE REGION FOR ALL TAF SITES BUT KEAT
WHERE ACTIVE FIRES COULD RESULT IN MVFR CONDITIONS. LOW
CONFIDENCE IN PRECIPITATION DEVELOPING BEFORE 18Z FRIDAY.
-----------------------
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:/WEATHER.GOV/OTX/AVNDASHBOARD
PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS
SPOKANE 80 48 72 42 57 39 / 0 0 30 30 40 70
COEUR D'ALENE 77 49 73 44 55 39 / 0 0 30 50 50 90
PULLMAN 76 49 72 40 54 37 / 0 10 30 40 60 80
LEWISTON 80 52 76 49 61 45 / 0 10 20 40 50 80
COLVILLE 78 37 72 33 59 29 / 0 0 40 30 60 70
SANDPOINT 73 52 71 44 52 40 / 0 0 30 60 60 90
KELLOGG 77 53 75 45 53 39 / 0 0 30 60 70 100
MOSES LAKE 75 47 72 41 62 39 / 10 10 30 10 30 30
WENATCHEE 74 54 70 45 61 42 / 20 10 40 20 30 40
OMAK 76 53 71 42 56 39 / 10 0 40 20 30 50
OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
WA...AIR QUALITY ALERT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE FOR CENTRAL CHELAN
COUNTY-OKANOGAN VALLEY-WATERVILLE PLATEAU-WENATCHEE AREA-
WESTERN CHELAN COUNTY. ID...NONE.
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