969
FXUS66 KOTX 041207
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
407 AM PST Tue Nov 4 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Active weather continues through the week.

- Periods of winter driving conditions over mountain passes.

- Breezy Winds Wednesday through Friday.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Several storm systems will impact the region through the week
with mild temperatures resulting in valley rain and mountain
snow. Winter travel conditions over mountain passes at times
through Friday. Winds breezy at times across the Columbia Basin
Wednesday through Friday as well. The weekend looks to bring a
break in the wet weather with continued mild temperatures for
November.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Tuesday through Friday: Cooler than expected temperatures Monday
evening prompted a Winter Weather Advisory for the central Idaho
Panhandle mountains above 3500 feet through 8 AM Tuesday. Traffic
cameras have shown periods of light to moderate snow Monday evening
leading to snow covered roads at Lookout Pass. Rain will taper off
from west to east Tuesday morning as a brief upper level ridge
builds in behind the departing shortwave moving through the Pacific
Northwest. Most areas will see a break in precipitation late Tuesday
morning through the afternoon before another round moves in during
the evening and overnight, bringing additional snow to the high
mountains and rain to the lowlands. This progressive pattern will
continue to bring mostly beneficial precipitation through the rest
of the week. Small creeks and rivers may see some rises,
particularly Paradise Creek. Will also see some gusty winds around
30-35 mph in the Blues, Columbia Basin, and Spokane area much of the
week.

A period to watch is Thursday evening through Friday in the Cascades
as a shortwave trough moves through the region. Washington Pass has
a 70% chance of receiving 8 inches or more of snow between 4 PM
Thursday and 4 PM Friday, while marginal temperatures at Stevens
Pass keep the likelihood of 8 inches or more much lower at 10%.

Sunday through Tuesday: Models are still hinting at drier conditions
this weekend with a large upper-level ridge building over the
western US. With recent/forecasted precipitation, there will mostly
likely be lots of fog and low stratus in the region. /Butler

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAFS: Light rain will from the Columbia Basin into the
southern to central Idaho Panhandle this morning. Rain is
expected to end at KEAT to KEPH/KMWH around 14Z with gradually
improving ceilings and VFR conditions by the afternoon. A more
moist boundary layer over extreme eastern Washington into the
Idaho Panhandle will result in IFR to low IFR conditions this
morning with improvements and MVFR conditions by this afternoon.
A warm front will push across the region late this evening into
tonight with rain redeveloping after 05Z tonight. Warm air
advection should result in higher ceilings (generally above
2,000 ft agl) with rain Tuesday night. A tightening northeast
gradient Tuesday night will result in breezy east to northeast
winds particularly for KCOE, KMWH, and KPUW.

.FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Moderate to
high confidence for IFR conditions this morning for KGEG/KSFF/KCOE
KPUW airport terminals. High confidence for ceilings to lift
this afternoon, but lots of uncertainty with how quickly and how
much the low stratus will break up. Stratus may clear out
across much of the region with VFR conditions for KGEG/KSFF/KCOE
KPUW earlier in the afternoon than what the TAF indicates. /SVH

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

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        45  38  53  41  53  41 /  80  80  90  90  50 100
Coeur d`Alene  45  38  50  42  52  40 /  90  80  90 100  80 100
Pullman        48  40  55  40  53  40 /  90  70  90 100  70  90
Lewiston       54  46  60  45  60  46 /  60  50  70  90  50  90
Colville       47  29  47  34  52  34 /  30  80 100 100  70 100
Sandpoint      43  34  46  39  48  38 /  70  80 100 100  90 100
Kellogg        45  39  52  43  48  41 / 100  80 100 100  90 100
Moses Lake     50  41  55  40  56  40 /  40  90  90  20  30  80
Wenatchee      47  42  51  40  53  41 /  40  90 100  50  50  90
Omak           49  38  48  40  53  39 /  20  90 100  50  40  90

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...None.
ID...Winter Weather Advisory until 8 AM PST this morning for
     Central Panhandle Mountains.

&&

$$