446
FXUS66 KOTX 212329
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
429 PM PDT Thu Aug 21 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Warm and dry through the weekend and into next week with much
  of Central WA and the L-C Valley in areas of Major HeatRisk
  with isolated areas of Extreme HeatRisk.

- Breezy north to northeast winds for Friday.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Temperatures will trend warmer through the weekend and remain
warm into early next week. Widespread highs in the mid 90s to
low 100s are forecast for Saturday through Tuesday with Moderate
and Major HeatRisk for far eastern Washington and north Idaho
and Major and Extreme HeatRisk for central Washington.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Tonight through Thursday: Ensembles continue to keep the region
under a strengthening ridge driven by a Four Corners High
Pressure. It will bring a prolonged period of hot, dry weather
for the Inland Northwest. The apex of the ridge will from along
the coast and keep the Inland Northwest on the downward East
side. It will promote a breezy North wind, in the mid 20 MPH
range, through the Okanogan Valley and Waterville Plateau.

Temperatures will steadily rise through the weekend and into
the start of next week. Highs will range from 10-20 degrees
above normal for this time of year. Highs are expected to be in
the 90s to low triple digits. Overnight lows will be in upper
50s and low 70s. A Extreme Heat Watch is in place for portions
of the East Cascades, Central Basin, and Okanogan Valley for
Saturday through Wednesday. Smoke from area fires can shave a
few degrees off the expected highs.

By the middle of next week, the ridge is expected to begin to
weaken and moisture will begin to intrude on the region. This
would bring the potential for elevated thunderstorms, raising
the risk of new fire starts. Confidence remains low, with only a
5-10% chance of thunderstorms in the NBM at this time over the
mountains. This will continue to be monitored closely in the
coming days. /JDC

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAFS: Conditions will remain VFR through the next 24 hours
with light winds.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: High confidence
for conditions to remain VFR.

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

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:/weather.gov/otx/avndashboard

&&

.Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs...
Spokane        55  91  58  95  61  96 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Coeur d`Alene  57  90  59  95  61  96 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Pullman        52  91  54  96  58  94 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Lewiston       61  98  64 102  67 102 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Colville       45  90  49  94  51  97 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Sandpoint      52  86  53  92  55  94 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Kellogg        59  88  61  94  64  94 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Moses Lake     57  94  60  98  64 100 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Wenatchee      64  93  68  98  73 100 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Omak           58  93  60  98  64 100 /   0   0   0   0   0   0

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...Extreme Heat Watch from Saturday afternoon through Wednesday
     evening for Central Chelan County-Lower Garfield and
     Asotin Counties-Moses Lake Area-Okanogan Valley-Upper
     Columbia Basin-Waterville Plateau-Wenatchee Area-Western
     Okanogan County.
ID...Extreme Heat Watch from Saturday afternoon through Wednesday
     evening for Lewiston Area.

&&

$$