Spokane, Virginia 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

534
FXUS66 KOTX 180603
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
1003 PM PST Wed Dec 17 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Moderate to high confidence in gusty winds declining through
  Wednesday night, then additional gusty winds with going into
  later Thursday and Friday with the next front. Gusts of 20 to
  40 mph will be possible.

- Heavy mountain snow to impact the Cascades through the end of
  the week. There is a 90% chance of 2 feet or more of snow at
  Stevens Pass through Friday afternoon.

- Light to moderate snow possible around the higher valleys near
  the Cascades and around the Idaho Panhandle Thursday and
  Friday.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
The Inland Northwest will remain in an active pattern through
the next week. Breezy and gusty winds Wednesday will continue to
decline this evening. Another system will bring mountain snow
and a lowland mix Thursday into Friday, along with additional
gusty winds. The pattern remains active heading into next week,
with continues opportunities for impactful mountain snow and a
lowland mix.


&&

.DISCUSSION...
Tonight: The Inland NW will remain a strong west-northwest flow
while the earlier vigorous system moves east and out. Model
show gradients slackening through this evening as a weak mid-
level ridge builds in, allowing winds to continue their gradual
decline through this evening. Winds will remain breezy/gusty for
sure, but they are expected to decline below speeds that could
cause significant impacts. This afternoon to early evening they
will still gust near 20-40 mph, then further decline to gusts
between 15-25 mph. The most notable wind speed decline is
expected toward 6-9 PM. The aforementioned flow will continue to
bring snow to the Cascade crest and around the central
Panhandle mountain. Some light to moderate accumulations are
forecast near the Cascade crest, with mainly light snow around
the Central Panhandle mountains. Temperatures are forecast to
bottom out tonight in the 20s to low 30s, with some mid-30s
lower lee of the Cascades, deeper Columbia Basin and L-C Valley.


Thursday through Friday: The next frontal wave moves through
the region, with mountain snow and lowland mix to changing to
rain. A warm front noses into the area from the southwest at the
start of the day and gradually lifts northward by later
afternoon, before a cold front slices across the area from the
northwest Thursday night into Friday morning. Overall
precipitation chances increase through the morning, becoming
most likely around the region in the late morning to early
afternoon and continuing through the evening, before chances
start to decline from the west late Thursday evening into the
overnight By Friday the best chance for precipitation will
remain around the the Cascades and Idaho Panhandle mountain
zones. Highs will be in the 30s near the Cascades and the
northern mountains closer to the Canadian border, while 40s are
projected elsewhere and maybe some lower 50s toward the lower
Palouse and L-C Valley.

*  Snow levels: initially are expected to be held near
   1000-2000 feet, then start to rise toward 3000-6000 feet
   through the afternoon to evening hours. The latest area to
   rise will be toward the northern mountains, which may only
   get to around 3000-4000 feet by evening. Areas toward the
   Cascades will are also apt to see more cold air damming,
   particularly areas toward the Methow valley. The snow levels
   remain around 2000-6000 feet through Thursday evening, then
   drop to between 500-2000 feet overnight into Friday, lowest
   near the north Cascades Friday AM. Through Thursday evening,
   this translates to mostly mountain snow and a lowland
   rain/snow mix changing to rain, except near the Methow where
   snow is more likely. Then heading into Thursday overnight
   into Friday precipitation is more likely to be all snow, save
   for southeast WA into the lower ID and around the Spokane
   valley area where rain/snow mix or all rain is possible.

*  Snow amounts and highlights: The Cascade crest and the higher
   valleys heading toward the crest will see the potential for
   some moderate accumulations. There is around 8-15 inches
   around the Cascade crest, locally to 18 inches Thursday
   through Friday morning. An additional 4 to 8 inches is
   possible Friday afternoon through Friday night. The higher
   valleys around the Cascades could see 2-5 inches, locally
   near 8 to 9 inches over the the upper Methow heading toward
   Mazama through Thursday evening, then another 1-3 is
   possible Friday. Moderate snow is also in the forecast around
   the central Panhandle mountains Thursday afternoon into
   Friday. Winter weather advisories are in place for these
   areas. Some freezing rain could be mixed in near the Cascades
   during the late morning to afternoon Thursday and milder air
   pushes in aloft with the warm front, but confidence is low;
   light ice accumulations are possible. The Cascade crest will
   have to be monitored for possible upgrade should snow rates
   and amounts increase, which would be most likely Thursday
   evening. The Waterville Plateau, northern mountains and
   mountain valleys, higher Palouse and Camas Prairie could see
   0.5 to 2 inches, with higher amounts in the higher mountains.
   The Blue Mountains could see some moderate snow too, but
   most of that is expected to be in the higher terrain. All
   these areas will be monitored should for any advisories.
   Spokane area and northern Columbia Basin could see some snow
   on Thursday as well, but at this point accumulations are
   expected to be lighter and may not have much impact if they
   do. But of course will will monitor that, should colder air
   impact these areas.

*  Winds: additional breezy/gusty winds are in the forecast with
   the Thursday and Friday system. The wind increase gradually
   on Thursday and are forecast to peak Thursday night into
   early Friday with the cold front. During that peak the
   forecast shows gusts between 20-40 mph. This will be
   monitored for any necessary highlights.

Saturday to Wednesday: An active storm track will continue to
impact the Pacific Northwest, with continued opportunities for
precipitation each day. The highest risk on this period comes
around Sunday into Monday, while the other periods the best
chances will be around the mountain zones. Saturday is apt be
lowland snow, with some mix in the afternoon/evening. Then
Sunday onward will feature a lowland rain and snow mix, with
more in the way of snow as a potential Tuesday and Wednesday.
The mountains are forecast to largely see snow and some moderate
to heavy accumulations are in the forecast. Right now any snow
that may fall in the lowlands is expected to be light. Highs are
forecast to be in the 30s and lower 40s, with some mid 40s in
the deeper Columbia Basin and L-C Valley around Sunday and
Monday. Lows will be in the 20s and 30s, with some teens around
the sheltered mountains valleys. /Solveig

&&

.AVIATION...
06Z TAFs: VFR conditions are forecast for all sites overnight
with winds generally less than 15 kts. Areas of light rain and
snow will start up Thursday morning between 15-18z bringing IFR
ceilings and visibilities. Winds will pick up again slightly
Thursday afternoon with gusts up to 25 kts.

.FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Moderate
confidence on timing of rain and snow developing and subsequent
degradation to IFR conditions.

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

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        32  45  33  39  30  38 /  10  90  80  20  20  40
Coeur d`Alene  31  44  33  39  31  38 /  20 100  90  40  50  70
Pullman        32  44  35  39  30  38 /  10 100 100  70  40  50
Lewiston       36  46  41  45  34  44 /  10 100 100  70  20  30
Colville       28  37  26  38  24  37 /  20  90  80  20  20  60
Sandpoint      31  38  31  37  29  36 /  40 100 100  40  70  90
Kellogg        32  42  33  37  30  35 /  40 100 100  70  80  90
Moses Lake     35  43  32  43  28  43 /  10 100  50  10  10  10
Wenatchee      35  39  30  39  29  38 /  30 100  80  20  30  40
Omak           31  36  26  37  24  36 /  10  90  70  10  20  30

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...High Wind Warning until 4 PM PST this afternoon for Central
     Chelan County-Lower Garfield and Asotin Counties-Moses
     Lake Area-Northeast Blue Mountains-Northeast Mountains-
     Okanogan Highlands-Spokane Area-Upper Columbia Basin-
     Washington Palouse-Waterville Plateau-Wenatchee Area-
     Western Chelan County.
     Wind Advisory until 4 PM PST this afternoon for Okanogan
     Valley-Western Okanogan County.
     Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM to 10 PM PST Thursday for
     Central Chelan County-Western Okanogan County.
     Winter Weather Advisory until 4 AM PST Friday for Western
     Chelan County.
ID...High Wind Warning until 4 PM PST this afternoon for Central
     Panhandle Mountains-Coeur d`Alene Area-Idaho Palouse-
     Lewis and Southern Nez Perce Counties-Lewiston Area-
     Northern Panhandle.
     Winter Weather Advisory from noon Thursday to 10 AM PST Friday
     for Central Panhandle Mountains.

&&

$$