087
FXUS66 KOTX 262307
AFDOTX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
407 PM PDT THU MAR 26 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- 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 AND BEGIN TO RECEDE
SLOWLY THIS WEEKEND.
SYNOPSIS
HIGH PRESSURE RETURNS THURSDAY INTO THE SATURDAY, WITH A DRIER
AND WARMER WEATHER. UNSETTLED WEATHER RETURNS TO THE REGION NEXT
WEEK.
DISCUSSION
TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY: TODAY IS COOL, DRY, AND BREEZY UNDER
THE INFLUENCE OF A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE BUILDING IN THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST. TEMPERATURES WILL PEAK IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOWER 50S.
DESPITE COOL TEMPERATURES, DEW POINTS IN THE 10S TO 20S ARE
RESULTING IN RHS AROUND 20-40%. THIS BUILDING RIDGE WILL BRING
THE RETURN OF ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES (UPPER 50S) TOMORROW AND
DRY CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH SATURDAY.
SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY: THERE IS GOOD AGREEMENT OF A SHORTWAVE
TROUGH BRINGING LIGHT MOUNTAIN SNOW TO THE MOUNTAINS, PRIMARILY
IN THE CASCADES SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. AMOUNTS LOOK LIGHT AS
PRE- FRONTAL TEMPERATURES SUNDAY AFTERNOON ARE ABOVE FREEZING
(WHICH IS WHEN THE BEST PWATS AROUND 110-150% OF NORMAL ARE OVER
THE CASCADES). THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY OF THE TIMING OF THE
FRONTAL PASSAGE. IF THE TIMING OF THE FRONT WAS SLOWER INTO
MONDAY MORNING LIKE THE GFS, SNOW POTENTIAL INCREASES IN THE
CASCADES. PROBABILITIES FOR 2+" SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY
AFTERNOON ARE LOW FOR STEVENS PASS (35%) SO LITTLE IMPACTS ARE
EXPECTED. THOSE CHANCES DECREASE TO 25% FOR LOOKOUT PASS. WITH
WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT, CENTRAL AND EASTERN WA WILL BE IN THE RAIN
SHADOW SUNDAY AND MONDAY. NORTH IDAHO CAN EXPECT LIGHT
BENEFICIAL RAINS AROUND 0.05" TO 0.25" SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH
MONDAY AFTERNOON.
THE REST OF MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY LOOKS UNSETTLED ESPECIALLY
IN THE MOUNTAINS. ENSEMBLE CLUSTERS INDICATE NEARLY 80% OF
MEMBERS BRINGING ANOTHER SHORTWAVE TROUGH THROUGH THE REGION
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, BRINGING BENEFICIAL RAINS AND LIGHT
MOUNTAIN SNOW. DB
AVIATION
00Z TAFS: VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED AS A VERY DRY AIR MASS
RESIDES OVER THE REGION. A FEW AFTERNOON CUMULUS THIN THIS
EVENING, THEN VARIABLE HIGH CLOUDS SPREAD IN TONIGHT INTO
THURSDAY. AFTERNOON GUSTY WINDS SUBSIDE AFTER 01-03Z.
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 28 56 37 57 36 55 / 0 0 0 0 0 10
COEUR D'ALENE 28 56 36 57 36 53 / 0 0 0 0 0 10
PULLMAN 30 57 39 57 37 56 / 0 0 0 0 0 10
LEWISTON 31 61 41 61 41 60 / 0 0 0 0 0 10
COLVILLE 26 57 32 60 34 57 / 0 0 0 0 0 10
SANDPOINT 27 53 34 55 36 50 / 0 0 0 0 0 20
KELLOGG 28 56 39 56 38 54 / 0 0 0 0 0 20
MOSES LAKE 28 60 37 63 36 62 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
WENATCHEE 32 55 38 60 38 58 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
OMAK 31 56 34 60 36 58 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
WA...NONE.
ID...NONE.
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