917
FXUS66 KOTX 091201
AFDOTX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
501 AM PDT THU JUL 9 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
- BREEZY WINDS THROUGH THE CASCADE GAPS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY EACH
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
- BREEZY WINDS BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD SATURDAY AFTERNOON WITH
THE STRONGEST WINDS DOWN THE OKANOGAN VALLEY.
- WARMING TREND EARLY NEXT WEEK.
SYNOPSIS
ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND
DUE TO LOW HUMIDITY AND BREEZY WINDS. A BROAD RIDGE BUILDING OVER
THE WEST-CENTRAL U.S. EARLY NEXT WEEK WILL BRING WARMING
TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE INLAND NORTHWEST.
DISCUSSION
THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY: THE REGION REMAINS UNDER ZONAL FLOW ALOFT
THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY. ONSHORE FLOW INTO WESTERN WA WILL TIGHTEN THE
PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS THE CASCADES EACH AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS
COOL MARINE AIR BANKS UP AGAINST THE MOUNTAINS, RESULTING IN
RECURRING BREEZY WESTERLY WINDS THROUGH THE CASCADE GAPS. RELATIVE
HUMIDITY VALUES WILL DROP INTO THE TEENS DAILY. FRIDAY AFTERNOON
INTO SATURDAY, A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OFF THE BRITISH COLUMBIA COAST
SHIFTS NORTHEASTWARD, PLACING THE INLAND NORTHWEST UNDER
SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW AND PUTTING THE REGION DIRECTLY UNDER THE JET
STREAM. THIS WILL GENERATE MORE WIDESPREAD BREEZY SOUTHWEST WINDS.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING, THE OKANOGAN VALLEY LOOKS LIKE THE
PRIMARY AREA OF CONCERN WITH SUSTAINED WINDS AROUND 20 MPH AND GUSTS
OF 35-40 MPH COINCIDING WITH RH VALUES IN THE LOW TO MID TEENS.
THUS, THIS AREA WILL HAVE TO BE MONITORED FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS.
SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY: A BUILDING RIDGE OVER THE WEST-CENTRAL
U.S. BROADENS EARLY NEXT WEEK, BRINGING A WARMING TREND TO THE
INLAND NORTHWEST. WHILE CONFIDENCE IS GROWING THAT AREAS FURTHER
EAST UNDER THE RIDGE AXIS WILL EXPERIENCE EXTREME HEAT UNDER THE
RIDGE, TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE INLAND NORTHWEST WILL SEE A MORE
SUBTLE INCREASE MONDAY AND TUESDAY. UNCERTAINTY INCREASES BY MID-
WEEK REGARDING THE TIMING OF THE NEXT PACIFIC LOW. A SLOWER ARRIVAL
WOULD ALLOW THE RIDGE OVER THE WEST-CENTRAL U.S. TO BUILD FURTHER
INTO OUR REGION, RESULTING IN HOTTER TEMPERATURES, WHILE A FASTER
ARRIVAL WOULD BRING TEMPERATURES BACK DOWN. THE CLIMATE PREDICTION
CENTER IS BANKING ON A SLOWER ARRIVAL, GIVING EASTERN WA AND NORTH
ID A 60-70 PERCENT CHANCE OF SEEING ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES IN THE
8-14 DAY OUTLOOK. THE NBM ISN'T READY TO FULLY COMMIT TO THE HOTTER
SOLUTION. THE NBM MAINTAINS A LARGE SPREAD BETWEEN 25TH AND 75TH
PERCENTILE TEMPERATURES. SPOKANE, FOR EXAMPLE, SHOWS 25TH PERCENTILE
HIGHS IN THE LOW 80S NEXT WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, WHILE THE 75TH
PERCENTILE SHOWS HIGHS IN THE MID 90S. /FEWKES
AVIATION
12Z TAFS: VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
BREEZY WINDS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE CASCADE GAPS AND DOWN THE
OKANOGAN VALLEY INCLUDING AT KEAT AND KOMK. ELSEWHERE, WINDS
HAVE SUBSIDED AND WILL GENERALLY BE 10KTS OR LESS THROUGH THE
PERIOD.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: HIGH CONFIDENCE
FOR VFR CONDITIONS REGIONWIDE.
-----------------------
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 87 57 89 57 86 57 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
COEUR D'ALENE 85 57 88 58 85 59 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
PULLMAN 83 51 85 53 84 53 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
LEWISTON 92 60 94 61 93 62 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
COLVILLE 87 55 88 55 86 53 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
SANDPOINT 84 58 87 58 85 59 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
KELLOGG 82 55 87 57 84 58 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
MOSES LAKE 91 57 91 56 88 56 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
WENATCHEE 90 63 89 61 86 60 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
OMAK 92 58 91 57 88 54 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
WA...NONE.
ID...NONE.
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