143
FXUS66 KOTX 280658
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
1058 PM PST Thu Nov 27 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Snow impacting travel in the East Slopes of Cascades and along
  Hwy 20 through Thanksgiving then Lookout Pass into Friday
  morning.

- Colder temperatures over weekend into next week with
  occasional chances for snow.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
A mix of rain and snow will continue for the northern mountain
valleys and additional light snow over mountain passes resulting
in minor impacts to travel. Temperatures cool to below normal
over the weekend. A couple weather system one around Saturday
and another early next week will bring the potential for
additional light snow.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Thursday and Friday: Widespread lowland rain and pockets of lowland
snow will continue through tonight and into tomorrow morning as a
weakening low pressure approaches the Washington/Oregon coastal
border this evening. Snow levels are above the valley floors except
the Methow Valley and the Purcell trench where colder air is having
a harder time scrubbing out. Snow will mainly impact the higher
mountain passes including Washington Pass, Stevens Pass, Sherman
Pass, and Lookout Pass through tomorrow morning (an additional 1-
3"). Much drier modified continental polar air will filter in from
the north Friday afternoon which will bring clearing skies and dry
conditions. There will be breezy north winds in the Okanogan valley
and upper Columbia Basin gusting up to 30 mph Friday thanks to a
1040 mb high in the Edmonton AB vicinity tightening surface pressure
gradients.

Saturday and Sunday: A shortwave trough will move through the upper
ridge and bring snow showers to the Cascade passes Saturday. Snow
amounts look light at the Cascade passes (up to 1") given this
shortwave is passing through a moisture starved airmass. The Palouse
and Camas Prairie could see some snowflakes Saturday evening with
this system but no impacts expected. Sunday morning will be cold in
the teens to upper 20s as synoptic descent will clear out clouds and
the still present dry airmass promotes strong radiational cooling.

Monday through Thursday: Precipition chances increase Monday as
atmospheric river moisture plume sags south from the central BC
coast Sunday night into Monday. The best timeframe for lowland snow
out of this system is Monday night in the eastern third of
Washington and north Idaho as a shortwave trough rides around the
top of the strong ridge in the Gulf of Alaska and pivots towards the
Pacific northwest. There is a 10-25% chance of an inch or more of
snow for extreme eastern Washington to north Idaho from from Monday
afternoon to Tuesday afternoon. Ensembles are in generally good
agreement that unsettled conditions will continue through mid next
week, particularly in the Cascades and Idaho Panhandle
mountains. DB

&&

.AVIATION...
06Z TAFs: A shortwave trough of lower pressure will push across
the region tonight spreading light precipitation across the
southern portions of Eastern Washington and the southern to
central Idaho Panhandle. Light rain will fall at the TAF sites
through 12-14Z early this morning. This will keep the boundary
layer saturated with IFR conditions expected. Some snow may mix
in as the backside of the precipitation shield pushes through
mainly for KGEG/KCOE/KPUW, but no snow accumulations is
expected at these terminals. A dry push of northerly winds will
take place on Friday and scour out the cloud cover from north to
south. This will erode the low clouds with VFR conditions
prevailing in the afternoon with clearing skies. Winds will
become a bit breezy down the Okanogan Valley with gusts of
between 20-30 kts expected at KOMK by 14Z through 20Z.

.FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Confidence
remains high for widespread IFR/MVFR conditions until the push
of dry air arrives through this morning. Confidence for a
transition to VFR conditions is also high. Low confidence for
any snow to occur at TAF sites as temperatures cool late
tonight. /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        34  42  25  36  21  35 /  70  40   0   0  10   0
Coeur d`Alene  33  39  24  35  21  34 /  90  60   0   0  10   0
Pullman        36  41  27  38  26  35 / 100  90  10  10  20  10
Lewiston       41  45  32  41  31  39 /  90  90  10  10  20  10
Colville       28  42  21  37  17  35 /  90  20   0   0  10   0
Sandpoint      30  37  21  32  18  32 / 100  60  10   0  10   0
Kellogg        35  38  23  35  21  35 / 100  90  10  10  20  10
Moses Lake     35  46  28  40  23  38 /  90  30   0  10  10   0
Wenatchee      36  45  32  38  28  39 /  80  30   0  10  10   0
Omak           33  41  27  37  23  37 /  50   0   0  10   0   0

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...None.
ID...Winter Weather Advisory in effect for 10 PM PST Thursday
through 1 PM PST Friday for Lookout Pass in the Central
Panhandle Mountains.

&&

$$