Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Spokane, WA

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139 FXUS66 KOTX 181000 AFDOTX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Spokane WA 300 AM PDT Tue Jun 18 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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Scattered showers and thunderstorms will occur again today across the region especially over Northeast Washington and North Idaho. A warming trend is expected through the week, with high temperatures rebounding into the mid 80s to mid 90s on Saturday.
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&& .DISCUSSION...
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Today through Wednesday Night...An upper trough lingers over the region which means more of the same today. There are some subtle differences though. Precipitable water values and dewpoints have increased compared to yesterday. Also, a mid level wave dropping down from the northwest this afternoon will help initiate more convection. Uncapped CAPE of 500-1000 J/KG will support scattered thunderstorms over the northern mountains, with northwest storm track favorable for these storms to come off the mountains into the Upper Columbia Basin, and Spokane/Coeur d`Alene areas and the Idaho Panhandle. All of the CAM`s models are showing gusty outflow winds coming out of these storms, with gusts anywhere from 25-40 MPH (highest under any stronger storms that develop). There will also be sufficient instability today for pop up showers or thunderstorms around the Blue Mountains, Camas Prairie, and LC Valley. This activity will wind down during the late evening and overnight with the loss of daytime heating. On Wednesday the convection cycle repeats, but this time limited to mainly the northern mountains and some drying in the atmosphere noses northward from Oregon into central and southern portions of Washington and the lower Idaho Panhandle. Temperatures will remain below normal today, before moderating close to normal values on Wednesday as the air mass continues to modify despite the lingering upper trough over the region. More mid-June sun heating up the lower atmosphere will be the main reason for the warming. JW Thursday through Tuesday: The Pacific Northwest will be under the influence of weak ridging at the start of the period. It will help jump start the gradual warming and dry trend for the Inland Northwest. A slow moving Low will also begin to slide into the region from the Gulf of Alaska. Ensembles are showing the Low pushing occasional shortwaves across the region. There is not a lotof moisture associated with these waves. Any indication of precip is confined to the mountains of the Cascades and northern portions of the Inland Northwest. Ensembles continue to show warming temperatures peaking on Saturday. The run to run comparisons of the highs on Saturday have cooled a few degrees from previous forecasts. Highs are expected to be in the 80s to low 90s. By Sunday, a dry cold front will swing through the region and kick off a cooldown. across the region with highs on Monday being in the 70s and low 80s. The front will also bring breezy winds across the region with gusts reaching into the mid 30 MPH range. Peaking ahead, Saturday has the potential of being the warmest day for the remainder of June. /JDC
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&& .AVIATION... 06Z TAFS: Lingering showers will continue into the late evening hours with the potential to impact KPUW/KLWS through 08Z. Models continue to suggest the development of marginal VFR ceilings to develop across far northeast Washington and north Idaho between 12 to 20Z on Tuesday with low clouds potentially developing across the Spokane/Coeur d`Alene corridor. A repeat of diurnally driven showers and thunderstorms is expected on Tuesday with a 30% chance for thunderstorms developing across KGEG-KSFF-KCOE, and around a 20% chance in the vicinity of KPUW and KLWS in the afternoon and early evening. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: There is a 40-60% chance and moderate confidence for ceilings between 1000-3000 feet at Coeur d`Alene, Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry from 12Z to 19Z. There is a 20% chance that marginal VFR ceilings develop at the Pullman/Moscow Airport early Tuesday morning. /SVH ----------------------- 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...
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Spokane 66 44 75 49 82 51 / 40 30 0 0 0 0 Coeur d`Alene 61 43 72 47 80 49 / 60 40 0 0 0 0 Pullman 64 42 74 45 81 50 / 20 10 0 0 0 0 Lewiston 73 48 84 53 89 57 / 30 0 0 0 0 0 Colville 65 38 73 41 81 44 / 70 40 20 0 0 0 Sandpoint 58 41 70 44 78 47 / 80 50 20 0 0 10 Kellogg 58 44 71 49 78 53 / 70 30 10 0 0 10 Moses Lake 75 46 82 54 88 56 / 10 10 0 0 0 0 Wenatchee 75 52 81 56 86 60 / 10 10 0 0 0 0 Omak 72 46 79 51 86 53 / 30 30 10 0 0 0
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&& .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ID...None. WA...None. && $$