FXUS66 KOTX 122047 AFDOTX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Spokane WA 147 PM PDT Sat Apr 12 2025 .SYNOPSIS... Cool and showery weather is forecasted for the region today, along with gusty winds. This weekend will also bring colder overnight low temperatures. Temperatures will then trend back upward heading into the early to middle part of next week. && .DISCUSSION... Today: A weak trough passing through the state of Washington today will bring chilly low temperatures and showery precipitation to the forecast area. Most of these rain and snow showers will be seen in northeast Washington and the northern Idaho panhandle. Orographic lift will allow mountains to see the most precipitation, though this precipitation will be very light. NBM probabilities show a 60-80 percent chance of a tenth of an inch of snow, but drop to 20-30 percent of an inch or more, and won't stick for very long. Highest elevations look to see a couple inches. While the areas of Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, and Pullman could see a couple showers today, NBM shows very low probabilities of a wetting rain (0.10 inches or more). Main impacts with this system will be wind gusts. The Cascades, western Columbia Basin, Palouse, Waterville Plateau, and Northeast Blue Mountains will see the strongest winds, with a potential for gusts up to 50 mph. However, almost all areas could see wind gusts up to 35 mph today. These winds will continue through tomorrow morning but will peak this afternoon. Additionally, the lift generated from this trough combined with 100-200 J/kg of SBCAPE values could bring some thunderstorms to northeast Washington and the Idaho Panhandle. Biggest risks with these are wind gusts, though some small hail is possible. This colder air and breezy wind will bring temperatures down, particularly low temperatures, which are expected to get below freezing tonight through most of the area. Tomorrow through Tuesday night: As the trough moves eastward and out of the area, ridging will take high temperatures back to the 60s, which is above normal for this time of year. Lingering chilly low temperatures just above freezing will last through Sunday night before warming back up to the high 30s and low 40s. Dry conditions will be experienced during this time as well. Tuesday night through Saturday: As another system pushes in Tuesday night, winds will again be elevated through the same areas as today, with potential gusts up to 30 mph. Highest chances for strong wind gusts occur on Wednesday and Thursday. Light showers are possible Wednesday through Thursday, but will be limited to far eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle, and total accumulations will be very light. After Thursday and through the rest of the extended forecast period, conditions will be warm and dry. These anticipated dry conditions pull most of our forecast area apart from Northeast Washington and the Northern Idaho panhandle out of the CPC's chances for above normal precipitation for both the 6-10 and 8-14 day outlooks. /AS && .AVIATION... 18Z TAFS: VFR conditions, but breezy with some shower chances developing Saturday PM. Only TAF site jumping from VFR to MVFR is KCOE, and looks to do so through 19Z today. Showers developing through KGEG-KSFF-KCOE-KPUW now through 0Z. KCOE has higher and longer PoPs through 04Z so put in rain showers for them once ceilings lift at 19Z. All TAF sites seeing wind gusts up to 30kts now through at least 03/04Z, with KPUW and KLWS seeing wind gusts for a longer time through 12Z. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: High confidence in VFR conditions and wind gusts up to 30kts through at least 03/04Z. /AS ----------------------- Confidence descriptors: Low - Less than a 30 percent chance Moderate - 30 to 70 percent chance High - Greater than a 70 percent chance && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Spokane 31 58 34 65 40 68 / 10 0 0 0 0 0 Coeur d'Alene 29 56 31 64 38 66 / 20 0 0 0 0 0 Pullman 29 53 31 64 40 66 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lewiston 36 61 36 70 44 72 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Colville 28 59 31 64 36 67 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sandpoint 29 56 30 62 36 65 / 20 0 0 0 0 0 Kellogg 31 53 31 63 41 63 / 40 0 0 0 0 0 Moses Lake 32 61 34 69 40 72 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wenatchee 34 61 39 66 43 70 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Omak 31 62 34 67 41 69 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 && .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ID...None. WA...None. && $$