174
FXUS66 KOTX 171710
AFDOTX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1010 AM PDT FRI APR 17 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- WARMING AND DRYING TREND FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY.
- INCREASING RAIN SHOWER CHANCES MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.
SYNOPSIS
WARMER AND DRIER CONDITIONS RETURN FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
NEXT ROUND OF SHOWERS IS EXPECTED FOR THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.
DISCUSSION
TODAY THROUGH MONDAY: THE INLAND NW IS IN BETWEEN TWO LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEMS TODAY. ONE OF THESE IS OVER SOUTHERN ALBERTA
AND WILL CONTINUE TO PULL AWAY FROM THE REGION. THE SECOND IS A
LOW AROUND 900 MILES WEST OF VANCOUVER ISLAND AND PUSHING EAST.
THIS LOW WILL WEAKEN AS IT TRACKS EAST, WHILE A LARGER LONG WAVE
TROUGH BECOMES ESTABLISHED OFF THE COAST THROUGH THE WEEKEND
AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. EVENTUALLY THIS TROUGH WILL BECOME A
CLOSED LOW, WHICH WILL RESULT IN A PROLONGED PERIOD OF SOUTHERLY
FLOW ALOFT AS THE LOW STALLS OFF THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON
COAST. THIS PATTERN WILL USHER IN A SIGNIFICANT WARMING TREND.
HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL WARM INTO MAINLY THE 60S SATURDAY, UPPER
60S TO MID 70S SUNDAY, AND THEN 70S TO LOW 80S ON MONDAY.
OCCASIONAL MID AND HIGH CLOUDS WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION, WITH
DRY WEATHER PREVAILING. THE WARMER TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN
INCREASED SNOW MELT OFF THE MOUNTAINS, BRINGING ADDITIONAL RIVER
RISES. THE STEHEKIN RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE BACK ABOVE FLOOD
STAGE ON MONDAY.
TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY: THE ENSEMBLE CLUSTERS ARE IN GOOD
AGREEMENT THAT THE LOW WILL EJECT EAST, WITH THE MAIN ENERGY
PASSING SOUTH OF THE AREA INTO OREGON AND THE SOUTHWEST US. YET
THERE WILL BE AN INCREASED CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AS MOISTURE GETS
DRAWN UP INTO THE REGION. THE INCREASED CLOUD COVER WILL AT
MINIMUM LOWER TEMPERATURES WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES ON THURSDAY BACK
DOWN INTO THE MID 50S TO MID 60S. JW
AVIATION
18Z TAFS: VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR ALL TAF SITES THROUGH
18Z SATURDAY. THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE MORE STABLE TODAY, WITH A
20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS LIMITED TO THE MOUNTAINS OF
THE EASTERN ID PANHANDLE IN THE AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL BE LIGHT
AND TERRAIN DRIVEN AT 10 KTS OR LESS.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS:
HIGH CONFIDENCE FOR VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE PERIOD.
-----------------------
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 54 32 62 38 70 44 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
COEUR D'ALENE 52 31 60 38 70 44 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
PULLMAN 50 32 60 39 68 45 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
LEWISTON 56 35 66 40 73 47 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
COLVILLE 58 29 62 34 72 41 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
SANDPOINT 50 31 58 36 67 43 / 10 0 0 0 0 0
KELLOGG 48 30 59 37 69 46 / 10 0 0 0 0 0
MOSES LAKE 60 35 68 40 76 46 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
WENATCHEE 60 40 64 44 72 51 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
OMAK 61 37 64 41 73 47 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
WA...NONE.
ID...NONE.
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