480
FXUS66 KOTX 031125
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
325 AM PST Tue Nov 3 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Mostly dry conditions through Wednesday.

- Two systems moving in mid to late week will bring light rain
  and mountain snow.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Temperatures will be seasonal and it will be mostly dry through
Wednesday in the Inland Northwest. Mountain snow showers and
rain showers return mid to late week as two systems move
through. Unsettled conditions continue into the weekend and
early next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Tuesday and Wednesday: An upper level low sliding through northern
California today will bring thickening clouds to the Inland NW a
small chance of sprinkles to central Washington in the morning.
Clouds will begin to clear out in the evening as the system departs
into Nevada, leaving Wednesday dry and mild. Temperatures Tuesday
and Wednesday will be in the upper 40s to 50s.

Thursday through Tuesday: Another system comes hot on its heels
early Thursday into the Pacific NW. Snow levels will be around 4000-
5000 feet in the Cascades early Thursday, but favorable synoptic
ascent is short lived as the decaying shortwave trough races through
the region and departs in the afternoon Thursday. There is a 20
percent chance of at least 1 inch of snow at Washington Pass
Thursday morning. This will also bring light rain to eastern WA and
north ID in the morning and afternoon, but amounts look very
unimpressive around a trace to a tenth of an inch.

Another shortwave will brush through the region Friday and this
system will have more moisture to work with but the best synoptic
ascent is displaced to the north in Canada. Strong westerly flow
will maximize preciptiation near the Cascade crest where a tenth to
half an inch of precipition is forecast Friday and Friday night.
Snow levels will start off around 4000-4500 feet in the morning
bringing snow to both Stevens and Washington Pass but rise above
5000 feet in the afternoon. The chance for at least 1 inch of snow
at Stevens Pass from Friday morning to Friday night is 10%. Those
chances increase to 45% for Washington Pass. We will take anything
we can get. Outside of the Cascades, precipitation amounts will be
light around a trace to a few hundreths with this system.

Unsettled conditions continue into the weekend primarily in the
mountains. Global ensembles are coming in better agreement that the
Pacific NW will be on the edge of high pressure to the east and low
pressure to the west. Snow levels at least initially appear to high
to get snow at the Cascade Passes Saturday but there is a 25% chance
of at least 6 inches of snow at Washington Pass Sunday and Monday. A
similar pattern appears to set up into next week with the longwave
trough remaining anchored in the northeast Pacific. /DB&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAFS: Localized MVFR conditions are being observed in
Colville and Felts Field this morning. High clouds are
obstructing the view of these low clouds so only can rely on
METARs. Expect widespread VFR conditions to return by mid to
late morning. High clouds will erode from west to east late
Tuesday. East winds 10-12 knots at KPUW and KCOE this morning
will gradually decrease through the morning.

Model ensembles show a small chance (20%) for stratus and/or
fog to return to the Spokane metro and the Palouse near the end
of the TAF period. There is not enough confidence in this to
include in the forecast at this time.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: High confidence
in widespread VFR conditions for much of the day. Low confidence
in the return of fog and stratus tonight into early Wednesday
morning.


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

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        50  35  51  36  49  35 /   0   0   0  10  70   0
Coeur d`Alene  51  36  51  36  47  36 /   0   0   0   0  80  10
Pullman        51  34  50  35  48  33 /   0   0   0  10  70   0
Lewiston       53  38  53  40  53  38 /   0   0   0  10  50   0
Colville       50  28  52  32  48  27 /   0   0   0  10  60  10
Sandpoint      49  34  50  35  44  34 /   0   0   0   0  80  20
Kellogg        53  36  53  35  46  35 /   0   0   0   0  90  20
Moses Lake     54  30  53  35  55  32 /   0   0   0  30  20   0
Wenatchee      52  36  52  39  55  39 /  20   0   0  20  10   0
Omak           52  33  53  38  52  34 /  10   0   0  10  10   0

&&

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

&&

$$