336
FXUS66 KOTX 040549
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
949 PM PST Mon Nov 3 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Active weather continues through the week.

- Periods of winter driving conditions over Cascade passes.

- Breezy Winds Wednesday through Friday.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Several storm systems will impact the region through the week,
each bringing valley rain and high mountain snow. Mountain
passes could have winter driving conditions through the week.
Breezy winds across the Basin Wednesday through Friday
afternoons.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Monday through Friday: This week will feature an active weather
pattern delivering several rounds of low-land and valley rain
and bringing accumulating snow to the mountains, mainly high
elevations. There will also be some periods of breezy to gusty
winds. The plume of moisture aimed at the Inland Northwest this
week will reach 160-200% of normal values for this time of year.
Low-land valley rain will mostly be beneficial in the form of
stratiform steady and light, though some area small creeks and
rivers may see some rises. One in particular is Paradise Creek.

The upper level pattern will be mild such that snow levels
should remain above 3500 feet or 4000 feet in the Cascades and
northern Mountains through early Wednesday before climbing
higher with colder temperatures aloft. As such, snowfall amounts
for Cascade Passes through Tuesday are 3-9 inches for Stevens
Pass, 3-8 inches for Washington Pass. Later in the week,
Washington Pass will have another chance (Wed - Fri) for an
additional 4-10 inches.

Winds will become breezy Wednesday across the Columbia Basin
out of the south-southeast and continue to remain breezy
Wednesday evening into Thursday and for part of the day Friday.
Wind gusts 25-35 mph will be common, as the average of most of
the guidance centers on this range. There is about a 10-12%
chance of wind gusts greater than 40 mph across the Blue
Mountains, the Basin and the eastern slopes of the Cascades
between Wednesday and Friday morning. /Dewey

...Previous Discussion...

Next round of widespread precipitation arrives sometime between
Thursday night and Friday morning though there are uncertainties in
the models on the exact timing. This system will likely have a more
westerly trajectory, favoring precipitation in the Cascades, far
eastern Washington, and the Idaho Panhandle. Models and their
ensembles are suggesting for a stronger cold front to move through,
bringing the best chances of the week for impactful winds. Right
now, the NBM gives a 50-70% chance for wind gusts greater than 40
mph across the Columbia Basin, Palouse, Spokane/Coeur dAlene area.
Additionally, this would bring lowering snow levels, especially over
the North Cascades. The NBM is currently giving Washington Pass a
50% chance for greater than 10 inches of snow Thursday night into
Friday.

Saturday and Sunday: Models are beginning to hint on drier
conditions this weekend with a large upper-level ridge building over
the west coast. /vmt

&&

.AVIATION...
06Z TAFS: MVFR/IFR conditions will prevail as bands of rain
move through the region. There is an 80 to near 100 percent
chance of current conditions prevailing through at least 16z for
GEG- SFF- COE-PUW-MWH-EAT. Expecting improving conditions from
south to north in the Columbia Basin and Palouse in the late
morning to early afternoon hours as drier air comes off the Blue
Mtns/Idaho panhandle mountains.

.FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Confidence
is moderate to high for deteriorating conditions to continue
through tonight and into the early morning. Confidence is lower
for timing/if conditions improve.
-----------------------

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        36  46  38  53  41  53 / 100  80  80  90  90  50
Coeur d`Alene  36  45  38  51  41  52 / 100  90  80  90 100  70
Pullman        37  49  41  55  40  53 / 100  70  70  80 100  60
Lewiston       42  56  46  60  45  59 / 100  50  50  70  90  40
Colville       26  46  29  47  33  50 /  80  40  80 100  90  70
Sandpoint      32  44  35  48  38  48 / 100  80  90  90 100  90
Kellogg        38  45  40  52  43  48 / 100 100  90  90 100  90
Moses Lake     38  49  41  55  38  55 /  90  30  90  80  20  50
Wenatchee      38  47  42  49  41  52 /  90  40 100  90  50  60
Omak           33  49  37  50  39  51 /  50  20  90 100  50  50

&&

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

&&

$$