Rathdrum, Idaho 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

360
FXUS66 KOTX 221402
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
602 AM PST Mon Dec 22 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Winter driving conditions over Lookout Pass Monday morning.

- Periods of rain and snow through the week with high degree of
  uncertainty in forecast specifics.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
The Inland Northwest will remain in an active pattern through
the week, with several opportunities for impactful mountain
snow, light lowland rain and snow, and breezy winds.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Today and Tuesday: The weak cold front will continue to exit
the region through the early morning hours. Drier air will fill
in behind and bring decreasing precip chances excluding high
level mountain snow. With the cool air and added surface
moisture, fog is expected to cause some travel concerns for
areas that received precip. The Low will continue to move south
along the coastline with the deepening trough. It will allow for
a steady moist southerly flow. Orographic lift across the
northern mountains will bring another round of snow showers
Monday night into Tuesday with little to no accumulation
expected.

Tuesday Night through Sunday: The deepening trough will allow
for the Low to continue to south to just off the Northern
California coast. It will push decent moisture and series of
weak shortwaves into the region. The Shortwave on Wednesday has
potential to bring gusty winds across the Basin as it pushes a
tightening pressure gradient through the Inland Northwest. Gusts
are expected to be in the 20-30 mph range but has potential to
reach near 40 mph Wednesday afternoon. Current ensembles have
slid the strongest winds over western WA compared to previous
runs. The weather pattern will remain fairly active with
continuous rain and snow chances through Sunday. Diurnal
temperature swings will help dictate precip type as snow levels
fluctuate during the day and night. Wednesday precip amounts are
expected to be the highest as the low brings a decent moisture
plume into the region. Amounts range 0.2-0.5 of an inch. For
snow amounts, there is still a great deal of uncertainty as the
region walks the fine rain, snow line through the period. Early
numbers are not impressive with 1-4 inches possible through
Thursday. A dry zonal flow pattern will develop over the weekend
as the Low becomes cutoff from the weakening trough. Highs for
the upcoming week will range in the 30s to low 40s. Overnight
lows will be in the 20s to low 30s range. /JDC

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAFs: A weaK cold front will push continue to push east,
with rain and mountain snow decreasing through the morning.
MVFR/IFR conditions are likely for KGEG/KSFF/KCOE/KPUW.
Typically precip and cooler weather leads to fog development
during the early morning hours. Models are not handling vis
reduction well. Reduced vis for KGEG-KSFF-KCOE for Monday
morning. Improvement toward MVFR is expected in the afternoon,
possibly VFR, before coming back now to MVFR/IFR later in the
evening into the overnight. TAF sites LWS/MWH/EAT will be more
in the range of VFR conditions, though some MVFR/lcl IFR
conditions are possible per some guidance for EAT/MWH,
though at TAF issuance the stratus was north and east of
these sites and it is not trending toward these sites at the
moment.


.FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS:
High confidence for MVFR ceilings deteriorating to IFR
conditions at GEG/SFF/COE/PUW, with cooler temperatures and
added moisture with a cold front passage. Moderate to high
confidence in MVFR conditions developing after 16-18Z. Low to
moderate confidence in VFR conditions developing at
GEG/SFF/COE/PUW after 21-23Z, then decreasing back to MVFR/IFR
after 07-09Z. Moderate to high confidence in VFR conditions at
EAT/MWH/LWS. Low confidence in MVFR/IFR conditions at
EAT/MWH/LWS.

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

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        40  31  42  35  45  30 /  10  20  10  70  80  20
Coeur d`Alene  41  32  42  36  45  31 /  30  20  10  70  80  30
Pullman        41  32  41  37  45  32 /  20  10  50  60  60  30
Lewiston       46  36  43  39  51  37 /  20  10  40  30  30  20
Colville       38  26  39  29  37  27 /  10  60  10  70 100  30
Sandpoint      38  31  40  34  39  30 /  50  50  20  90 100  50
Kellogg        39  33  41  37  43  32 /  70  30  40  80  90  50
Moses Lake     41  29  40  33  43  30 /  10  10   0  80  60  10
Wenatchee      38  28  37  32  39  27 /   0  40   0  70  70  20
Omak           36  28  37  31  40  27 /   0  60   0  60  90  10

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...None.
ID...Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM PST this morning for
     Central Panhandle Mountains.

&&

$$