000
FXUS66 KOTX 211736
AFDOTX

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1036 AM PDT Tue May 21 2013

.SYNOPSIS...
The mild spring weather will come to an end. A strong cold
front will sweep through the region today and this evening with
showers...a chance of thunderstorms and breezy winds. Cool and
showery weather will continue through much of the week, but will
improvement a bit for the holiday weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Updated the forecast to keep up on the quickly changing pattern
today. A deep upper level low is rotating to the WA coast while a
strong cold front has slipped east of the Cascades and roughly
extends from Chelan to Hanford. Radar shows a dense line of
showers along and ahead of the front. Embedded thunderstorms were
reported early this morning which coupled with the mid level
instability, but the lightning strikes have waned in the last
hour. Local heavy downpours accompanied the thunderstorms and
Wenatchee saw 0.14" in less than an hour. The front will slowly
sweep east and take on a negative tilt through the day. Not
expected much temperature rises today in the Cascades behind the
front. Meanwhile, the Idaho panhandle and extreme eastern WA will
warm up into the lower 70s with rising dewpoints. Instability will
be on the rise this afternoon in this area with Capes reaching
500-700 j/kg. This coupled with increased 0-6km speed shear and
low level directional shear ahead of the front, has the potential
for strong thunderstorms will some organization. The cons for
strong thunderstorm development will be the increase of mid and
high clouds which may cap the activity. Will continue to monitor.
/rfox.

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAFS: A cold front will sweep through the TAF sites today
lowering cigs, showers, a wind switch with gusty winds. The front
will push from KEAT to KMWH through 21z, and then march to the KGEG
vcnty, KPUW and KLWS toward 00z. Anticipate light high based showers
ahead of the front with the potential for thunderstorms. The best
chance for thunderstorms will be north and east of KGEG this
afternoon. Behind the front, expect cigs to continue to lower
overnight with steady light rain. Snow levels will drop to 4-5k ft
overnight. Cigs will be nearing MVFR by 12z. The rain will taper off
to shower by Wednesday morning. /rfox.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Spokane        70  41  51  36  61  42 /  30  90  90  40  30  30
Coeur d`Alene  72  41  48  36  59  41 /  30  90  90  50  40  40
Pullman        70  38  51  35  60  41 /  20  80  80  30  40  40
Lewiston       78  44  59  41  66  46 /  40  60  70  30  30  40
Colville       74  45  55  37  66  41 /  50  90  90  60  50  40
Sandpoint      73  43  50  36  59  39 /  30  90  90  80  40  50
Kellogg        75  40  44  34  55  40 /  30  90  90  70  50  50
Moses Lake     69  43  62  40  68  44 /  70  50  30  30  30  30
Wenatchee      63  43  58  42  65  45 /  70  60  40  40  50  30
Omak           66  43  59  38  66  41 /  80  80  70  50  50  30

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...None.
WA...None.
&&

$$