244 FXUS66 KOTX 101227 AFDOTXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Spokane WA 527 AM PDT Wed Sep 10 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Showers and thunderstorms becoming more scattered in nature across the region through the remainder of the week.
- Areas of smoke and haze through the week, especially near wildfires.
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.SYNOPSIS... The chance for isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms across the region will continue through late week. Areas of smoke and haze are expected to continue through the week, especially near wildfires.
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.DISCUSSION... Today through Saturday: As the low tracks further inland and pushes a series of shortwaves through the area, the chance for daily afternoon, evening, and overnight showers and thunderstorms continue for eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle. These precipitation amounts will overall be very light and less than a tenth of an inch, but isolated heavy rainfall rates may occur within stronger thunderstorms. PWATs from now through midday tomorrow are at 100-150 percent of normal, but Thursday night through Saturday rise to 150-200 percent of normal. This will give the best chance of wetting rains to the area on Thursday night, where chances (40-60 percent) are confined to far southeast Washington and central Idaho. Highest chances for rain are outside of the area and across eastern Oregon. With this increased surge of moisture combined with the lift from shortwaves moving into the area also comes the chance for wetter thunderstorms, and therefore higher chances for locally heavy rainfall rates within thunderstorms. Should any of these thunderstorms pass over sensitive burn scars, there is a chance of some flash flooding. Overall thunderstorm chances each day are 10-20 percent, with localized chances of 30 percent near the areas receiving the most rainfall. Though the overall area is focused on eastern Oregon, higher PWATs and the chance for stronger thunderstorms has led the Weather Prediction Center to include far southeast Washington and central Idaho in Excessive Rainfall Outlook for today and tomorrow with a marginal chance for flash flooding, especially near burn scars. By Saturday, chances for showers lower to around 10-20 percent. Temperatures will remain in the low to mid 80s through Saturday, but will cool slightly each day. These temperatures are slightly higher than normal for this time of year.
Sunday through Wednesday: Right now, models are indicating that as this low fills and moves out of the area, another low pressure system will move in right behind it, bringing further chances for precipitation. This low will not bring as many small waves of energy into the area, so chances for thunderstorms lower to 1-5%. The strength of the low is still in question, but overall is indicating more widespread precipitation. Chances for wetting rains, however, remain low. By Tuesday, cluster analysis shows less confidence in continued wet conditions, and shows high heights moving over the area, indicating a possible return to warmer and drier conditions. However, there is disagreement on the strength of the higher heights and the location, so signals right now are low.
Smoke and haze: Smoke from wildfires continues to drift through the area, with areas of smoke and haze being heaviest near ongoing wildfires. An Air Quality Alert has been issued for areas in Washington through 11am tomorrow. /AS
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.AVIATION... 12Z TAFS: Overnight showers/convection stopped at the WA/OR doorstep and brought only mid/high level clouds across eastern WA. Some areas seeing reduced visibility (but greater than 6SM) due to haze/smoke from wildfires. Expect haze/smoke to persist and become more prominent from CQV/OMK/MWH and to a lesser extent DEW/GEG and southward through Thursday 18z. Showers and isolated thunderstorms will develop after 23z Today near Lewiston and Pullman, after 05z near Coeur d`Alene and Spokane and drifting northeast. Conditions will be at VFR levels through the TAF period.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Confidence is low for thunderstorm timing and development at an air field near LWS/PUW/COE/SFF/GEG, with the best time period 03z through 10z from south to north, therefore did not include TS in the current TAF package. Confidence is moderate that visibilities will not be impacted by smoke/haze and will maintain visibilities above 6SM with the elevated winds and showers. /Dewey
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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
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.Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs... Spokane 86 58 81 57 81 56 / 10 20 20 30 20 20 Coeur d`Alene 86 59 81 57 79 57 / 10 20 30 40 30 20 Pullman 81 53 76 52 75 52 / 10 50 50 50 40 20 Lewiston 86 63 81 62 81 61 / 10 60 60 60 50 20 Colville 86 46 84 47 83 47 / 0 10 20 20 20 20 Sandpoint 84 54 81 52 78 52 / 10 20 40 40 40 40 Kellogg 84 58 79 57 74 58 / 10 40 60 70 60 40 Moses Lake 86 58 83 56 83 54 / 10 10 20 10 10 0 Wenatchee 86 63 86 62 85 61 / 20 10 20 10 0 0 Omak 89 60 89 59 86 58 / 10 10 10 10 0 0
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.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WA...Air Quality Alert until noon PDT Thursday for Central Chelan County-Northeast Mountains-Okanogan Highlands-Wenatchee Area-Western Chelan County. ID...None.
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NWS OTX Office Area Forecast Discussion