447
FXUS66 KOTX 222355
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
455 PM PDT Fri Aug 22 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Warm and dry through the weekend and into next week with much
  of Central WA and the L-C Valley in areas of Major HeatRisk
  with isolated areas of Extreme HeatRisk.

- Breezy north to northeast winds Friday.

- Ridge breakdown by end of next week.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Temperatures will continue to warm through the weekend and remain
well above normal through mid week. Widespread high temperatures
in the mid 90s to low 100s are forecast Saturday through Wednesday
with Moderate to Major HeatRisk for far eastern Washington and
north Idaho. Major to Extreme HeatRisk is expected for central
Washington.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Tonight through Friday: Ensembles continue to keep the region
under a strengthening ridge driven by a Four Corners High
Pressure. It will bring a prolonged period of hot, dry weather
for the Inland Northwest. The region is positioned under the
ridge axis.

Temperatures will steadily rise through the weekend and into
the start of next week. Highs will range from 10-20 degrees
above normal for this time of year. Highs are expected to be in
the 90s to low triple digits. Overnight lows will be in upper
50s and low 70s. A Extreme Heat Watch is in place for portions
of the East Cascades, Central Basin, and Okanogan Valley for
Saturday through Wednesday. Smoke from area fires can shave a
few degrees off the expected highs. It is also expected to
degrade air quality for locations close to the fires
particularly Camas Prairie and Southeast Washington.

By the middle of next week, the ridge is expected to begin to
weaken and moisture will begin to intrude on the region.
Ensembles have decent agreement with moisture pushing into the
region by late Wednesday. This would bring the potential for
elevated thunderstorms, raising the risk of new fire starts. Any
shower/thunderstorm activity is being confined to Southeast WA
and the Idaho Panhandle. Confidence is low for the showers. This
will continue to be monitored closely in the coming days. /JDC

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAFS: VFR conditions are expected through the period. Smoke
and haze could limit visibility at KPUW-KLWS tomorrow around
19-21z.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Low confidence
that smoke or haze will move through eastern WA and northern ID.


-----------------------

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:/weather.gov/otx/avndashboard

&&

.Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs...
Spokane        58  94  61  96  61  98 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Coeur d`Alene  59  93  61  96  61  97 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Pullman        55  94  58  96  58  96 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Lewiston       63 102  68 103  68 102 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Colville       48  93  51  96  52  98 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Sandpoint      54  90  55  93  55  96 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Kellogg        60  92  64  94  64  95 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Moses Lake     61  97  63 100  64 101 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Wenatchee      68  96  73  99  74 101 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Omak           61  97  64 100  65 101 /   0   0   0   0   0   0

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...Heat Advisory from noon Saturday to 9 PM PDT Wednesday for
     Northeast Blue Mountains-Northeast Mountains-Okanogan
     Highlands-Spokane Area-Washington Palouse.
     Extreme Heat Warning from noon Saturday to 9 PM PDT Wednesday
     for Central Chelan County-Lower Garfield and Asotin
     Counties-Moses Lake Area-Okanogan Valley-Upper Columbia
     Basin-Waterville Plateau-Wenatchee Area-Western Okanogan
     County.
     Fire Weather Watch from Monday afternoon through Tuesday
     evening for East Portion of North Cascades National
     Park/Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (Zone 697)-East
     Washington Central Cascades (Zone 696)-East Washington
     North Cascades (Zone 698)-Methow Valley (Zone 704).
ID...Heat Advisory from noon Saturday to 9 PM PDT Wednesday for
     Coeur d`Alene Area-Idaho Palouse-Lewis and Southern Nez
     Perce Counties.
     Air Quality Alert until 9 AM PDT Monday for Central Panhandle
     Mountains-Idaho Palouse-Lewis and Southern Nez Perce
     Counties-Lewiston Area.
     Extreme Heat Warning from noon Saturday to 9 PM PDT Wednesday
     for Lewiston Area.

&&

$$