795
FXUS66 KOTX 262133
AFDOTX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
233 PM PDT SUN APR 26 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- AFTERNOON SHOWERS OVER PRIMARILY THE MOUNTAINS THROUGH
TUESDAY. SMALL POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE IDAHO
PANHANDLE SUNDAY AND MONDAY
- WARMER AND DRIER CONDITIONS WEDNESDAY THROUGH AT LEAST FRIDAY.
SYNOPSIS
AFTERNOON SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE MAINLY OVER THE MOUNTAINS
THROUGH TUESDAY. TEMPERATURES THEN SEE A GRADUAL WARMING TREND
THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK.
DISCUSSION
TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY: AN UPPER RIDGE IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC
ALONG 140W WILL CONTINUE TO RESULT IN A NORTH TO NORTHWEST FLOW
ALOFT OVER THE INLAND NW. MID LEVEL WAVES DROPPING WILL CONTINUE
TO PROMOTE DIURNALLY DRIVEN SHOWERS. YET WITH THE LOWER AIR MASS
RATHER DRY, THESE SHOWERS WILL BE FOCUSED MAINLY OVER THE
MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN OF NORTHEAST WASHINGTON INTO THE IDAHO
PANHANDLE. THERE IS ALSO JUST ENOUGH INSTABILITY OVER THE ID
PANHANDLE WITH SURFACE BASED CAPE OF 100-300 J/KG THAT A FEW
LIGHTNING STRIKES MAY DEVELOP (20 PERCENT CHANCE) THROUGH THIS
AFTERNOON. ON MONDAY THE BEST INSTABILITY SHIFTS FROM THE BLUE
MOUNTAINS INTO THE CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS WITH A 20% CHANCE
OF THUNDERSTORMS. OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL REMAIN ON THE COOLER SIDE
WITH THE NORTHERLY FLOW BUT TRENDING WARMER COMPARED TO THOSE
OBSERVED THE PAST FEW NIGHTS. FOR TONIGHT FOR AREAS IN THEIR
GROWING SEASON FROST COVERAGE CARRIES LESS CONFIDENCE AND THUS
NO ADDITIONAL ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN ISSUED.
WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY: THERE IS GOOD AGREEMENT IN THE MODEL
CLUSTERS THROUGH FRIDAY LEADING TO HIGH CONFIDENCE. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL MOVE OVER THE REGION WEDNESDAY FOR WARMER AND
DRIER CONDITIONS. ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY A MID LEVEL TROUGH
FLATTENS THE RIDGE AS IT PASSES INTO BRITISH COLUMBIA. YET THE
AIR MASS CONTINUES TO WARM UNDER MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES WITH HIGH
TEMPERATURES WARMING INTO THE 70S. FOLLOWING THIS RIDGE
FLATTENING, 60% OF THE MODEL CLUSTERS DEVELOP STRONG HIGH
PRESSURE CENTERED OVER WASHINGTON INTO BRITISH COLUMBIA WITH A
CLOSED LOW OFF THE NORTHERN CA COAST. THIS WOULD BRING
ADDITIONAL WARMING. THE OTHER 40% SHOW EITHER A WEAK TROUGH OVER
THE REGION ON THE EAST SIDE OF AN UPPER RIDGE, OR HAVE THE
CALIFORNIA COAST LOW FURTHER NORTH WHICH WOULD BRING AT LEAST A
SLIGHT COOL DOWN AND A SMALL CHANCE FOR SHOWERS. GIVEN THE
UNCERTAINTY THE NBM IS ADVERTISING SIMILAR TEMPERATURES FOR
SATURDAY/SUNDAY AS FRIDAY. HOWEVER THE NBM ALSO SHOWS A 10-15
DEGREE RANGE IN HIGH TEMPERATURES POTENTIAL LEADING TO LOWER
CONFIDENCE IN PRECISE VALUES. JW
AVIATION
00Z TAFS: VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE TAF PERIOD.
INCREASING MOISTURE WILL BRING MORE MID TO UPPER LEVEL CLOUDS.
SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 02Z-04Z OVER NE WASHINGTON AND
THE ID PANHANDLE, WITH A 20-40 PERCENT CHANCE OF IMPACTING THE
SPOKANE/COEUR D'ALENE TAF SITES. THERE IS A 10-15% CHANCE FOR
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE IDAHO PANHANDLE SUNDAY
AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL BE LIGHT, BUT DECAYING SHOWERS MAY RESULT
IN AN OUTFLOW THAT IMPACTS AIRPORTS OVER NORTHEAST WASHINGTON
AND THE IDAHO PANHANDLE INCLUDING COLVILLE, DEER PARK,
SANDPOINT, SPOKANE, AND COEUR D'ALENE
(K63S/KDEW/KSZT/KGEG/KSFF/KCOE).
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS:
HIGH CONFIDENCE FOR VFR CONDITIONS. JW
-----------------------
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 33 61 39 63 41 67 / 20 10 0 10 0 0
COEUR D'ALENE 33 58 38 60 41 65 / 20 20 10 10 10 0
PULLMAN 32 58 37 60 39 63 / 20 30 0 10 0 0
LEWISTON 37 61 40 65 43 68 / 0 30 0 10 0 0
COLVILLE 28 64 36 66 40 71 / 20 10 0 20 10 0
SANDPOINT 32 56 37 58 41 63 / 20 20 10 30 20 10
KELLOGG 32 55 37 57 40 63 / 20 50 10 40 10 20
MOSES LAKE 36 69 40 70 41 73 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
WENATCHEE 40 68 45 68 45 72 / 10 10 0 0 0 0
OMAK 35 66 41 69 43 74 / 0 0 0 10 0 0
OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
WA...NONE.
ID...NONE.
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