Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Spokane, WA
Issued by NWS Spokane, WA
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248 FXUS66 KOTX 041017 AFDOTX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Spokane WA 317 AM PDT Tue Jun 4 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A weaker weather system will swing through today with windy conditions picking up this afternoon. Winds will not be as windy as Monday. This weather system will also bring additional light precipitation to the region, especially over the Idaho Panhandle and into extreme eastern Washington. A significant warming trend will then commence mid week. Very warm temperatures up into the mid 80s to mid 90s is expected by Friday into the weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Today into tonight: A second frontal system will swing through today. It will bring another healthy plume of moisture to the Inland Northwest similar in magnitude to the moderate Atmospheric River event over the past 48 hours. The big difference with this weather system is that the the track of the surface low will remain off of the northern BC coastline. Upper level dynamics will remain well off to the north as a result. Primary forcing mechanism will be moist isentropic ascent with the warm front that is beginning to push onshore around 2 AM this morning. Radar will begin to fill in as warm air advection along the front increases through this morning. A strong westerly jet aloft will result in a substantial rain shadow in the lee of the Cascades and across the basin. Windward slopes of the Cascades will wring out a good amount of moisture, which will then slop over the crest with around a half an inch of precipitation expected. Precipitation will then increase over the Idaho Panhandle where accumulations will vary considerably as orographics will play a large factor in which areas will see more than others. The valleys will see up to a quarter of an inch where the mountains will see closer to around a half of an inch. Snow levels will be rising up to around 6,000 feet. This should result in snow only over the highest peaks and unlike to have impacts for even our highest mountain passes (e.g. Washington Pass and Sherman Pass). The trailing cold front will swing through in the afternoon. It will bring a good amount of cold air advection with winds at 850 mbs at around 40-45 mph. We should easily see gusts approaching these wind speeds with the front moving through during peak mixing of the day. I increased winds a bit from what was previously forecast. Winds will be close to advisory criteria and I expect isolated spots to achieve criteria of sustained winds near 30 mph and gusting to 45 mph. It`s isolated enough and not near the level of the winds from yesterday, that elected to not issue a wind advisory. Impacts will be minor and mainly reserved to strong cross winds, especially for high profile vehicles. Light weight objects may be blown around, so hopefully those objects remain secured after taking action due to the winds from yesterday. Wednesday through next Tuesday: The longwave pressure pattern will shift over this period with the Four Corners High strengthening and becoming more amplified. The ridge axis will build over the Inland Northwest Wednesday into Saturday. Subsidence under the ridge will warm temperatures aloft and those warmer temperatures will translate down to the surface. Expect a warming trend, and this trend will be significant. We are expected to see the warmest temperatures of the season thus far and looks to peak on Saturday with highs around 15 degrees above normal in the upper 80s to mid 90s for most valley locations. Something to keep in mind if planning outdoor activities over the weekend. Make sure to have a plan in place to stay hydrated and to seek cooler temperatures, especially if planning an activity that will be strenuous. Below are the probabilities for greater than 85, 90, and 95 degrees for Saturday: * 85 degrees - Spokane: near 100%, Sandpoint: 65-70%, Omak: near 100%, Wenatchee: near 100%, Moses Lake: near 100%, Lewiston: near 100%, Pullman/Moscow: 55-60% * 90 degrees - Spokane: 65-70%, Sandpoint: 20-25%, Omak: 90%, Wenatchee: 80-85%, Moses Lake: 90%, Lewiston: 90%, Pullman- Moscow: 20% * 95 degrees - Spokane: 25-30%, Sandpoint: near 0%, Omak: 45-50%, Wenatchee: 40%, Moses Lake: 50-55%, Lewiston: 45-50%, Pullman- Moscow: 0% Something else that bares watching is the potential for convection Saturday evening into Sunday. Around 80% of the model ensembles shows the high pressure ridge axis shifting east of the region at this time with moisture increasing into the region. Guidance also indicates a shortwave trough pushing across Saturday evening into Saturday night. There is uncertainty with the strength of this wave. Early indications is that it will be fairly weak, but thermal profiles are favorable for elevated instability to be in place with the potential for nocturnal convection. The potential for convection extends into Sunday mainly over the mountains of northeast Washington and the Idaho Panhandle. Ensembles begin to diverge more so further into the extended for next week. The leading consensus is that the ridge will rebound, but not to the strength of this weekend with temperatures expected to peak around the middle of next week short of what is anticipated for this Saturday. /SVH && .AVIATION... 06Z TAFS: West winds have decreased into the 10 to 20 mph range across the majority of the Inland Northwest after a windy day. Our next round of light rain will spread east of the Cascades around 12z with the most significant stratiform precipitation occurring south of Interstate 90. Ceilings of 2000 ft or less are progged by the HREF and GFS MOS at Pullman, Spokane, and Coeur d`Alene with the arrival of the light rain. More post-frontal wind will develop after 21z and persist into the evening with gusts of 25 to 35kts at Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Spokane, Couer d`Alene and Pullman. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Confidence in ceilings in the 12z-20z time frame are moderate. Guidance is in good agreement with ceilings between 1000-2000 feet at GEG, SFF, COE, PUW and smaller airports like Deer Park, Sandpoint, and Kellogg. However, amendments may be needed to refine the start and end time of the low clouds. /GKoch ----------------------- 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 66 41 69 45 78 51 / 60 10 0 0 0 0 Coeur d`Alene 60 42 67 45 77 52 / 70 20 0 0 0 0 Pullman 63 42 66 44 77 50 / 70 10 0 0 0 0 Lewiston 71 52 77 52 86 59 / 50 10 0 0 0 0 Colville 65 34 69 39 78 45 / 40 0 0 0 0 0 Sandpoint 58 41 66 42 75 49 / 60 40 0 0 0 0 Kellogg 57 46 64 46 76 54 / 90 40 0 0 0 0 Moses Lake 74 43 76 46 85 54 / 30 0 0 0 0 0 Wenatchee 69 45 74 50 83 58 / 40 0 0 0 0 0 Omak 72 41 75 46 83 52 / 20 0 0 0 0 0 && .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ID...None. WA...None. && $$