Area Forecast Discussion Issued by NWS Spokane, WA
000
FXUS66 KOTX 222104
AFDOTX
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
204 PM PDT Mon Apr 22 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
Mild and dry weather returns for the start of work week with 60s
and 70s for Tuesday and Wednesday. A subtle cooling trend arrives
late Wednesday into Thursday with breezy winds and small chances
for showers. Unsettled weather continues late Thursday through the
weekend and early next week with better chances for precipitation
across the lowlands.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Monday night and Tuesday: Currently, the Inland Northwest remains in
a broad northwest flow aloft as a shortwave passes through far
southeast British Columbia and a subtle ridge moves in from the
west. Current radar imagery shows weak showers developing across the
high terrain of northeast Washington and north Idaho, but I would
not expect these to produce much precipitation. Ridging will shift
over the Inland Northwest tonight as a closed upper level low moves
onshore northern British Columbia. Under this ridge, temperatures on
Tuesday will warm about 5 to 10 degrees compared to Monday with
highs in the mid 60s to low 70s.
Wednesday: A cold front associated with the low in British Columbia
will push across the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday. Zonal flow
aloft will keep precipitation in the Cascades. Models have trended
warmer for Wednesday as moisture increases from the southwest with a
second day with highs in the mid 60s to low 70s. Winds will be
breezy with the front with a minor concern for blowing dust and
grass fires in the upper Columbia Basin where there is a 50-60%
chance of wind gusts greater than 35 mph.
Thursday through Monday: Models continue to show a period of active
weather through the weekend with multiple systems passing through
the northwestern US. Thursday afternoon, models are in good
agreement with a surface low approaching the Washington coast and an
upper level trough digging along the western US. Models are in
general agreement for the potential of widespread precipitation
across the Inland Northwest, but there still remains differences on
the timing and strength resulting in uncertainty in the onset and
overall precipitation amounts. Subsequent shortwaves will continue
to bring additional rounds of precipitation Friday and Saturday.
Models are coming into better agreement that unsettled weather will
continue into the beginning of next week as large, occluded low
approaches the northwest. /vmt
&&
.AVIATION...
18z TAFS: High confidence for VFR skies across the forecast area
through the taf period. A shield of cirrus moves in from the
southwest later today and into Tuesday. Winds will generally be
light and out of the North.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: High confidence in
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 35 66 39 66 41 61 / 0 0 0 0 0 20
Coeur d`Alene 34 66 38 64 40 58 / 0 0 0 0 0 20
Pullman 34 64 40 63 40 58 / 0 0 0 0 0 10
Lewiston 39 70 45 72 45 66 / 0 0 0 0 0 10
Colville 31 67 36 66 37 62 / 0 0 0 0 0 20
Sandpoint 34 64 38 63 41 56 / 0 0 0 0 0 20
Kellogg 37 64 42 62 43 54 / 10 0 0 0 10 20
Moses Lake 36 71 42 71 41 66 / 0 0 0 0 0 20
Wenatchee 41 68 48 67 44 64 / 0 0 0 0 0 20
Omak 38 70 44 70 42 65 / 0 0 0 0 0 20
&&
.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...None.
WA...None.
&&
$$