076
FXUS66 KOTX 260802
AFDOTX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
102 AM PDT THU MAR 26 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- CASCADE PASS SNOW: WINTRY TRAVEL CONDITIONS FOR THURSDAY
MORNING.
- WARM, DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
- HYDROLOGY: THE STEHEKIN RIVER AT STEHEKIN IS FORECAST TO
REMAIN ABOVE ITS ACTION STAGE (19.5 FT) FOR THE NEXT WEEK.
OTHER AREA RIVERS WILL STAY ELEVATED BUT WILL REMAIN BELOW
ACTION STAGE.
SYNOPSIS
HIGH PRESSURE RETURNS THURSDAY INTO THE SATURDAY, WITH A DRIER
AND WARMER WEATHER. ADDITIONAL SHOWER CHANCES ARRIVE NEXT WEEK.
DISCUSSION
TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY: THE TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED MOISTURE HAS
SHIFTED EAST OVER MONTANA. DRIER AIR WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO
THE REGION AS A RIDGE BEGINS TO BUILD FROM THE SOUTH. WINDS
WILL STILL BE BREEZY TO START THURSDAY MORNING BUT DECREASE
THROUGH DAY AS THE REGION STABILIZES BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. THE
PATTERN IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN THROUGH THE WEEKEND. WHILE
TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE ON A WARMING TREND, THE LOW
AMPLIFICATION OF RIDGE WILL HELP CAP THE HIGHS. CURRENT FORECAST
HAS A RANGE OF 50S TO LOW 60S. THESE ARE AROUND 5 DEGREES ABOVE
THE NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. DRY AND CLEAR SKIES WILL
ALLOW FOR OPTIMAL OVERNIGHT RADIATIONAL COOLING. THE LOWS WILL
BE IN THE 30S WITH SOUTHERN LOCATIONS, LIKE LEWISTON AND
MATTAWA, REACHING LOW 40S.
MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY: THE RIDGE WEAKENS AND SHIFTS EAST AS
A GULF OF ALASKA TROUGH BEGINS TO DEEPENS ALONG THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST. MODEL GUIDANCE DIFFERS ON THE EXACT TIMING AND
STRENGTH OF THE TROUGH. IT IS EITHER MONDAY MORNING OR
AFTERNOON. THERE IS NOT A DECENT COLD AIR PUSH ASSOCIATED WITH
THE TROUGH. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN ON THE WARM SIDE
OF NORMAL FOR THE PERIOD. THE TROUGH WILL BRING THE NEXT ROUND
OF PRECIP. ANY PRECIP WILL GENERALLY BE MOUNTAIN SNOW AND
LOWLAND RAIN. LOWLANDS COULD SEE SNOW DEPENDING ON THE TIMING OF
PRECIP. IT IS TOO EARLY FOR ANY CONFIDENCE ON AMOUNTS. IT WILL
BE A VERY SPRING LIKE PATTERN OVER THE REGION. IT WILL CONTINUE
TO BE UNSETTLED PATTERN THROUGH THE WEEK AS A GULF OF ALASKA LOW
PUSHES SEVERAL SHORTWAVES ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. /JDC
AVIATION
06Z TAFS: VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED AS A DRY, STABLE CONDITIONS
BUILD INTO THE REGION. AFTERNOON MIXING WILL SUPPORT BREEZY
WINDS THURSDAY WITH GUSTS 10 TO 20 KNOTS.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS:
THERE IS HIGH CONFIDENCE FOR VFR CONDITIONS AT TAF SITES.
-----------------------
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 47 28 56 36 57 35 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
COEUR D'ALENE 46 27 56 34 57 35 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
PULLMAN 44 30 56 37 56 37 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
LEWISTON 51 30 60 39 61 41 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
COLVILLE 50 25 56 31 59 32 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
SANDPOINT 46 27 52 31 54 34 / 10 0 0 0 0 0
KELLOGG 42 28 57 37 56 36 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
MOSES LAKE 53 29 60 34 63 36 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
WENATCHEE 50 32 55 36 60 37 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
OMAK 52 31 56 34 59 36 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
WA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM PDT EARLY THIS MORNING FOR
WESTERN CHELAN COUNTY-WESTERN OKANOGAN COUNTY.
ID...NONE.
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