Weather alerts for the NWS Spokane WA forecast area

000
FXUS66 KOTX 281140
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
440 AM PDT Wed Oct 28 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Valley rain and mountain snow at times through the week.

- Winter travel conditions in the Cascades through Wednesday,
  especially over Stevens and Washington Passes.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Valley rain and mountain snow is forecast at times through the
week with the highest snow amounts in the Cascades through
Wednesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Wednesday through Thursday: A deep closed low dropping out of 
southern British Columbia will bring cooler temperatures to the 
region, along with increasing showers on Wednesday. This is due 
to increased lift, as well as unstable conditions as 500mb 
temperatures plunge -30C over the northern half of Washington into
the North Idaho Panhandle. This combined with lower level upslope
flow from west- southwest winds at 850mb into the Cascade crest, 
and mountains of Northeast Washington and the North ID Panhandle 
will produce several inches of snow. Bands of convergence into the
Cascades also has the potential to produce brief periods of 
heavier snow with HREF showing around a 30-40 percent chance of 1 
inch per hour snow rates. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in 
place for elevations above 3000 feet in the Cascades through 5 PM
Wednesday with the highest amounts expected over Stevens and 
Washington Passes. Wednesday Night into Thursday as the closed low
drops south to off the WA coast the flow turns southwest. Drier
air coming into the region in the mid levels will result in a 
decrease in the intensity and coverage of showers, but enough 
moisture lingers over the northern mountains and Cascades for 
additional light rain and mountain snow amounts. Below are the NBM
chances for various snow thresholds being reached for the 
mountain passes from 5 PM Tuesday to 5 PM Thursday:

Mountain Pass   2+ inches   4+ inches   6+ inches   8+ inches
Stevens Pass    100%        95%         70%         50%
Washington Pass 100%        75%         30%          5%     
Sherman Pass     50%        10%          0%          0% 
Lookout Pass     90%        50%         10%          5% 

Friday through Tuesday: The influence of the upper low continues Friday 
and Saturday as another wave associated with the low passes
through for more cool and showery conditions with mountain snow
showers, and a rain/snow mix in the valleys. On Sunday the low 
starts to push out and is replaced by an upper ridge on Monday and Tuesday
bringing dry weather and slightly warmer temperatures.

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAFS: Rain and mountain snow showers will continue today as
a low pressure system wobbles over the area. Mid-level westerly
flow will focus the highest activity in the Cascades, eastern 
third of WA, and the ID Panhandle. MVFR ceilings can be seen on
satellite expanding over Northeast WA and North ID including at
KGEG/KSFF/KCOE. Expect MVFR conditions to persist over these
terminals through the morning and early afternoon before
improving through the evening. Southwest winds with gusts of 
15-25 kts will continue across the region through this morning.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: High confidence
that downslope flow off area terrain keeps conditions VFR at
KEAT/KMWH/KLWS. Moderate to high confidence in MVFR conditions
continuing through early afternoon for KGEG/KSFF/KCOE.

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

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        48  34  50  36  50  34 /  90  50   0   0  10   0 
Coeur d'Alene  44  34  49  34  50  33 / 100  70  20   0  10  10 
Pullman        46  35  49  35  48  34 / 100  40   0   0  10  20 
Lewiston       53  38  53  39  53  37 /  50  40  10   0   0  20 
Colville       46  34  47  33  48  30 /  90  40  20  10  20   0 
Sandpoint      41  34  46  34  46  32 / 100  90  20   0  10   0 
Kellogg        41  33  47  33  48  35 / 100  80  20   0  10  10 
Moses Lake     54  34  52  35  51  32 /  20  10   0   0  10   0 
Wenatchee      51  35  47  37  49  35 /  10   0   0  40  50   0 
Omak           49  34  48  35  47  33 /  70  10  10  10  50  10 

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM PDT this afternoon for 
     Western Chelan County-Western Okanogan County.
ID...None.

&&

$$