676
FXUS66 KOTX 280544
AFDOTX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
944 PM PST FRI FEB 27 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- BREEZY WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS DECREASING TONIGHT.
- DRIER AND WARMER THROUGH THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.
SYNOPSIS
TODAY WILL CONTINUE TO BE BREEZY AND WINDS GUSTING FROM THE
WEST AND SOUTHWEST BY THE AFTERNOON. THERE WILL BE A GRADUAL
WARMING TREND OVER THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. ACTIVE
WEATHER BY TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY WITH A RETURN OF SHOWERS
AND BREEZY WINDS.
DISCUSSION
TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY: BREEZY WEST-SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL RAMP
DOWN TONIGHT AS A 125-140 KT 300 MB JET STREAK TO THE NORTH
MOVES INTO EASTERN MT AND SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENTS RELAX.
PERIODIC GUSTS TO 25-35 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THIS
EVENING. TOPOGRAPHIC INDUCED CLOUD COVER IN EASTERN WASHINGTON
AND NORTH IDAHO WILL DWINDLE TONIGHT BUT A WEAK LOW PRESSURE OFF
THE CA COAST WILL BRING SCATTERED HIGH CLOUDS INTO THE REGION
SATURDAY. CONDITIONS STAY MILD AND DRY THROUGH TUESDAY WITH HIGH
TEMPERATURES IN THE 40S AND 50S THANKS TO WEAK HIGH PRESSURE.
WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY: PRECIPITATION CHANCES INCREASE LATE
TUESDAY EVENING INTO WEDNESDAY AS A WEAK SHORTWAVE TROUGH
APPROACHES THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. PRECIPITATION IN THE LOWLANDS
WILL BE IN THE FORM OF BENEFICIAL RAINS. FROM 4 AM WEDNESDAY TO
4 AM SATURDAY, THERE IS A 5-20% CHANCE OF 0.25+” RAIN FOR
CENTRAL WA, 20-60% CHANCE FOR EASTERN WA, AND A 60-90% CHANCE
FOR NORTH ID. MODELS SHOW MARGINAL CONVECTIVE INSTABILITY OVER
THE REGION WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AROUND 100 J/KG THANKS TO
MODERATELY STEEP LAPSE RATES WITH THE TROUGH AXIS CENTERED OVER
THE INW. THIS WOULD SUPPORT A BROAD 5-10% CHANCE OF LIGHTNING
UNDER GRAUPEL SHOWERS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. COLDER TEMPERATURES
ALOFT WILL SUPPORT SNOW AT THE MOUNTAIN PASSES ABOVE 4000 FEET
(STEVENS, LOOKOUT) THROUGH FRIDAY. FROM 4 AM WEDNESDAY TO 4 AM
SATURDAY, THERE IS A 75% CHANCE OF 8+” OF SNOW AT STEVENS AND A
50% CHANCE AT LOOKOUT. DB
AVIATION
06Z TAFS: VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH
MIDDLE AND HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS. SURFACE WINDS WILL GRADUALLY
DECREASE THROUGH THE REST OF THE EVENING, WITH SPEEDS LESS THAN
10 KNOTS FOR SATURDAY.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: HIGH CONFIDENCE
FOR VFR 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 29 48 28 51 30 51 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
COEUR D'ALENE 29 48 29 51 31 51 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
PULLMAN 31 50 33 50 33 51 / 0 0 0 0 10 10
LEWISTON 34 53 36 55 36 56 / 0 0 0 10 10 10
COLVILLE 28 48 26 50 28 51 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
SANDPOINT 29 45 28 47 30 48 / 10 0 0 0 0 0
KELLOGG 31 47 29 51 31 50 / 0 0 0 0 0 10
MOSES LAKE 30 52 31 54 31 55 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
WENATCHEE 33 50 33 52 34 56 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
OMAK 31 48 30 51 33 52 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
WA...NONE.
ID...NONE.
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