704
FXUS66 KOTX 181144
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
444 AM PDT Fri Sep 18 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...
- Isolated showers over southeast Washington and the Central
  Panhandle Mountains Friday.

- Warm temperatures through Tuesday with afternoon highs in the
  mid 70s to low 80s.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Isolated showers are forecast on Friday over southeast
Washington into the Central Panhandle Mountains. Otherwise dry
weather is expected through the middle of next week with high
temperatures through Tuesday in the mid 70s to low 80s.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Friday through Tuesday: A closed low over SE Oregon will slowly
move east today, tracking into southern Idaho. Southeast flow will
continue to draw mid level moisture into SE Washington into the
Central Panhandle Mountains. This will keep a chance for showers
going for the Blue Mountains, Palouse, Camas Prairie, and Central
Panhandle Mountains while the remainder of the region experiences
warm and dry conditions. Surface based CAPE of 300-800 J/KG could
allow allow a few thunderstorms to develop over the high terrain
in the afternoon. Brief downpours, small hail, lightning, and
wind gusts up to 30 MPH will be the main hazards with any storms
that develop.  Over the weekend the low continues its trek
eastward, reaching Wyoming on Sunday. Upper ridging on the back
side of this low will build across the Inland NW promoting warm
and dry conditions with highs mainly in the mid 70s to low 80s.
The ridge begins to slowly weaken heading into Monday and Tuesday
but mostly clear skies and continued southwest flow will allow
Monday to be just as warm before slight cooling Tuesday.

Wednesday and Thursday: Model clusters have 65 percent of the
members showing an upper ridge holding strong enough for continued
above normal temperatures and dry, while 35 percent show more
significant flattening which would mean a continued cooling trend
and a chance for mainly mountain showers. The forecast is a
compromise at this point with highs mainly in the 70s, and a 20
percent chance of mainly mountain showers. JW

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAFS: VFR conditions will continue for all TAF sites. Mid
to upper level clouds will continue to move over KPUW/KLWS
/KGEG/KSFF/KCOE through the morning. There is not a high enough
probability to include showers in the sites. Increasing stable
conditions expected for Friday afternoon and night. Breezy
northwest winds into the teens will impact KEAT after 03Z.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: High confidence
in VFR conditions. Low confidence on rain impacting TAF sites.
Moderate confidence on arrival and speed for KEAT winds. /JDC


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

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        77  49  78  49  80  51 /  10   0   0   0   0   0
Coeur d`Alene  75  49  77  50  79  51 /  10   0   0   0   0   0
Pullman        73  47  74  48  79  49 /  20   0   0   0   0   0
Lewiston       78  54  80  55  84  56 /  20   0   0   0   0   0
Colville       79  43  80  44  82  45 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Sandpoint      73  47  75  48  77  48 /  10   0   0   0   0   0
Kellogg        73  50  75  50  77  51 /  10   0   0   0   0   0
Moses Lake     79  48  79  48  82  50 /  10   0   0   0   0   0
Wenatchee      80  57  79  57  80  58 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Omak           80  52  80  52  81  53 /   0   0   0   0   0   0

&&

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

&&

$$