996
FXUS66 KOTX 072138
AFDOTX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
238 PM PDT THU MAY 7 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- BREEZY TO LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
- WIDESPREAD MINOR HEATRISK INTO NEXT WEEK. THIS LEVEL OF HEAT
PRIMARILY AFFECTS THOSE WHO ARE SENSITIVE TO HEAT.
- COLD WATER TEMPERATURES POSE A HIGH RISK FOR COLD WATER SHOCK
AND HYPOTHERMIA FOR ANYONE WHO UNEXPECTEDLY FALLS IN. WEAR A
LIFE JACKET IF RECREATING ON OR NEAR THE WATER.
SYNOPSIS
A PROLONGED PERIOD OF ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE
INTO THE MIDDLE OF MAY. CONDITIONS WILL BE DRY. WINDS WILL BE
GUSTY FRIDAY AND AGAIN SUNDAY, ESPECIALLY IN CENTRAL
WASHINGTON.
DISCUSSION
TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY: A STRONG RIDGE IS IN PLACE AND
BRINGING WARM, DRY CONDITIONS WITH CLEAR SKY. THE RIDGE WILL
KEEP THE INLAND NORTHWEST UNDER WARM, DRY CONDITIONS THROUGH THE
WEEKEND. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 70S TO LOW 80S. MINOR HEAT RISK
THREAT CONTINUES FOR THOSE WHO ARE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO HEAT
AND NOT ACCLIMATED TO THE WARMER TEMPERATURES THIS EARLY IN THE
SEASON. OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE IN THE UPPER 40S AND 50S.
ENSEMBLES ARE SWINGING A DRY COLD FRONT THROUGH THE REGION ON
FRIDAY. THE MAIN CONCERN WILL BE WINDS FOR THE CASCADE VALLEYS,
COLUMBIA BASIN, AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON. SUSTAINED WINDS WILL
BE WEST IN THE TEENS AND LOW 20S MPH. GUSTS WILL BE IN THE 30-40
MPH (80+ PERCENT PROBABILITY). WITH THE DRYNESS ACROSS THE
REGION, THE WINDS COULD BRING BLOWING DUST IMPACTS TO THE
WESTERN PORTION OF THE COLUMBIA BASIN.
THE RIDGE BEGINS TO FLATTEN LATE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY AS THE GULF
OF ALASKA LOW MOVES INTO BC. IT WILL PRESS A SHORTWAVE INTO THE
REGION AND BRING ANOTHER PERIOD OF GUSTY WINDS TO THE WESTERN
PORTION OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST. WIND GUSTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE
IN THE 30-40 MPH RANGE (80+ PERCENT PROBABILITY) FOR SUNDAY. THE
REGION IS NOT EXPECTED TO SEE MUCH CHANGE FROM THE WARM, DRY
CONDITIONS THROUGH TUESDAY. TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO REMAIN
ABOVE THE SEASON NORMAL.
ENSEMBLES BEGIN TO DIVERGE ON THE EXTENDED FOR WEDNESDAY AND
THURSDAY. A TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO SWING THROUGH THE REGION.
ENSEMBLES ARE SPLIT ON THE TIMING AND STRENGTH. THERE IS AROUND
A 35 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS FOR THE MIDWEEK BUT CONFIDENCE IS
LOW ON AMOUNTS. /JDC
AVIATION
18Z TAFS: WINDS REGION-WIDE WILL BE LIGHTER TODAY BUT NOT CALM
BY ANY MEANS WITH SPEEDS OF 6-11KTS AND GUSTS AROUND 15KTS. FAIR
LATE MORNING TO EARLY AFTERNOON CUMULUS WILL BE FOUND ACROSS
NORTHEASTERN WA AND NORTH IDAHO. AFTER 03Z, WINDS WILL SUBSIDE
REGION-WIDE WITH SPEEDS LESS THAN 10KTS UNDER CLEAR SKIES.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS:
HIGH CONFIDENCE FOR VFR CONDITIONS FOR ALL 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 49 73 46 75 48 79 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
COEUR D'ALENE 48 69 45 72 47 76 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
PULLMAN 44 68 43 70 46 75 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
LEWISTON 48 75 47 76 49 81 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
COLVILLE 47 76 43 79 47 80 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
SANDPOINT 46 69 44 72 46 76 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
KELLOGG 45 70 44 72 46 79 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
MOSES LAKE 50 79 45 79 50 82 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
WENATCHEE 53 76 49 80 55 79 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
OMAK 53 80 46 81 54 83 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
WA...NONE.
ID...NONE.
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