Schweitzer

000
FXUS66 KOTX 301728
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
1028 AM PDT Fri Oct 30 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Light snow in the east slopes of the Cascades into Friday 
  morning above 3000 feet. Less than half of an inch of new snow
  expected. 

- A chance (20-50%) of rain primarily over Southeast WA and the
  southern ID Panhandle late Saturday night into Sunday. Light 
  rain accumulations up to a tenth of an inch expected.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Low pressure will remain off the coast through Friday, then will
eject inland over the weekend. Valley rain and mountain snow is 
forecast at times on Friday and through the weekend with 
periods of very light snow impacting the Cascade passes. The 
incoming low pressure system will also bring increasing chances
for light rain late Saturday night into Sunday across
Southeast WA and the southern ID Panhandle.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Friday through Sunday: The upper level trough off coast continues to 
weaken and fill in, but will leave cool and unsettled conditions 
present in the region through this weekend with temperatures near 
average to slightly below average. Shower chances Friday will be 
limited to the east slopes of the Cascades. Snow levels will be 
around 3000-4500 feet, so there is a small chance (10%) for 1" 
or more at Washington Pass.

The forecast for Saturday evening looks drier than it was looking 
last night but there are still a small chance for sprinkles (5-20% 
chance), mostly in central/eastern Washington and the southern ID 
Panhandle. Evening temperatures will fall into the low to mid 40s, 
accompanied by light northeast winds around 1-4 mph. The chance of 
seeing 0.25 inches or more of rain from 4 AM Saturday to 4 AM Monday 
has drastically dropped to less than 5 percent outside of the lower 
Palouse and L-C valley. The chances are around 10-20% with the 
highest on the Camas Prairie. 

Shower chances Sunday will be limited to southeast Washington east 
of US-395 and the southern ID Panhandle as the trough moves ashore. 
The best dynamics appear to be trending southward in the model runs 
so the chances of a quarter inch or more of rain through Monday 
morning have dropped off significantly to less than 5 percent 
outside of the lower Palouse and L-C valley. The chances are around 
10-20% with the highest on the Camas Prairie. 

Monday through Thursday: Models are still in good agreement of a 
building ridge Monday which will bring dry conditions and slightly 
above normal temperatures in the low to mid 50s. High temperatures 
could under perform if stratus/fog layers develop but 
confidence is low at these lead times. Ensembles are trending 
towards unsettled conditions returning towards late next week 
(into Thursday) with potential for showers and high mountain 
snow. /DB

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAFS: An influx of mid and high clouds over most of Eastern
WA and North Idaho will lead to VFR conditions through 18z
Saturday. Ceilings could be as low as 7-8k ft AGL between 03-18z
Saturday which could present a small risk for sprinkles. For
Central WA, upslope, easterly flow will lead to lower ceilings
closer to 4000-5000 ft AGL in the Cascades with periods of light
precipitation. This will lead to mtn obscrns over the higher
peaks. There is low confidence for -RA at KEAT but 40% chance at
Plain, Stehekin, and Winthrop with snow levels rising toward
4500 feet by this afternoon. Winds will be light for most
terminals. The only exception will be 18-21z for KCOE and KPUW
which will experience 10-14kts. 

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: High confidence  
for VFR conditions prevailing except for at KEAT. There is
moderate confidence for MVFR ceilings across the Cascades but
low confidence to develop at KEAT.

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

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        50  33  51  36  50  30 /   0   0   0  20  10   0 
Coeur d'Alene  50  33  53  36  50  32 /   0   0   0  10  10   0 
Pullman        50  32  50  33  44  29 /   0   0   0  10  30   0 
Lewiston       54  37  54  41  49  36 /   0   0   0  30  50   0 
Colville       49  27  52  25  53  22 /   0   0   0  20   0   0 
Sandpoint      49  30  52  31  50  29 /   0   0   0   0  10   0 
Kellogg        51  33  54  36  50  32 /  10  10   0  10  10  10 
Moses Lake     53  28  53  32  54  27 /   0   0   0  20   0   0 
Wenatchee      50  34  49  37  55  34 /  10   0  30  10  10   0 
Omak           48  31  49  34  52  31 /   0   0  10  10   0   0 

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...None.
ID...None.

&&

$$