170
FXUS66 KOTX 301736
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
1036 AM PDT Wed Sep 30 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Sheltered northern valleys will see low temperatures in the
  mid 30s each morning through Friday, leading to isolated areas
  of frost development.

- Temperatures gradually trend warmer through the rest
  of the week and into the weekend. Afternoon highs peak in the
  70s and low 80s Saturday through Monday.

- Mainly dry conditions are forecast with the exception of
  shower chances for the North Cascades Thursday into Friday.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Temperatures will trend warmer through the end of the week,
rising into the 70s and low 80s by the weekend. Conditions are
looking benign through the first week of October with mainly dry
conditions and light winds.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Wednesday: Clouds will clear out for much of Wednesday as drier
air filters into the Inland Northwest. Clear skies and light
winds early Wednesday night will potentially allow low
temperatures across the northern valleys to plummet into the
30s. Uncertainty remains as to how much the temperatures will be
able to drop before more moisture moves over the area and cloud
cover rolls in, limiting further radiative cooling.

Thursday through Monday: Temperatures will trend warmer heading
into the weekend as an upper- level ridge builds across the
western US. Zonal flow will persist initially over the Inland
Northwest Thursday and Friday with a weak weather disturbance
bringing a small chance (20%) for light rain showers across the
North Cascades Thursday into Friday. Elsewhere, this
disturbance will primarily result in increased cloud cover.
Ensembles are in good agreement for the ridge to amplify and become
established over the Pacific Northwest this weekend, initiating
a prolonged period of dry weather and above normal
temperatures. Beyond Monday, ensemble consensus favors
persistent upper-level ridging remaining in place through the
first week of October. Great pumpkin patch weather lies ahead!
/Fewkes

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAFS: VFR conditions are anticipated as drier air filters
into the Inland Northwest through the afternoon. This will clear
clouds from northwest to southeast, with ceilings 4-6k feet at
KPUW and KLWS through 21-00Z. Another push of mid and high level
clouds arrives tonight into Thursday morning, though conditions
will remain VFR. Winds will be less than 10kt through the
period outside of the Okanogan Valley and Waterville Plateau
where breezy northerly winds develop tonight.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: High confidence
for VFR conditions through the period.

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

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        68  48  67  44  68  45 /  20   0   0   0   0   0
Coeur d`Alene  65  50  65  43  66  45 /  30  10   0   0   0   0
Pullman        69  48  64  43  68  45 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Lewiston       76  54  70  49  74  50 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Colville       62  40  67  37  67  38 /  10  10   0   0   0   0
Sandpoint      58  44  64  38  64  41 /  40  20   0   0   0   0
Kellogg        62  48  61  44  65  45 /  20  30  10   0   0   0
Moses Lake     71  47  70  44  72  44 /  10   0   0   0   0   0
Wenatchee      72  51  69  51  69  52 /  20  10   0   0   0   0
Omak           64  45  68  43  68  46 /  10   0   0   0   0   0

&&

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

&&

$$