Rathdrum, Idaho 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

364
FXUS66 KOTX 290047
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
547 PM PDT Sun Jun 28 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Breezy gap winds persist through this evening along the
  Cascades.

- Wetting rains overnight for eastern WA and north ID including
  over 1.00" of rain in the mountains of ID.

- Thunderstorms in northeast WA and north ID Monday afternoon

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
A band of rain is expected to impact much of the Inland
Northwest later this evening and overnight. Following the rain,
scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected to
develop Monday afternoon over north ID and northeast WA.
Unsettled weather and cooler than normal temperatures will
persist the remainder of the week with isolated shower activity.
By the weekend, a ridge will build bringing temperatures back
up to normal in time for the holiday weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Tonight through Monday...
The satellite view over the Pacific Northwest is an impressive
site for late June, particularly when you consider that 5 years
ago today was the peak of the historic heatwave that brought
record breaking temperatures. Three distinct circulations can be
seen on the water vapor imagery; the parent low over northern
Nevada, a second more vigorous circulation retrograding over
northern Montana, and a final weaker circulation moving due south
on the western periphery of the trof. It is the northern Montana
circulation that will bring the Inland Northwest a much needed
band of wetting rains overnight and a round of thunderstorms
Monday afternoon.

The cloud shield ahead of this wave has already overspread much of
Washington and radar echoes are now showing up over far northern
Idaho. Models have come into agreement that a band of rain will
move south and west this evening, bringing north Idaho and eastern
WA approximately .15-30" of rain in the lower elevations and
heavier amounts in the ID mountains (.50-1.25").

The 992 mb surface low pressure currently located in northwest
Montana will slowly fill to 998 mb and drift southeast by this
time tomorrow. The relaxing pressure gradient across the Cascades
will help reduce the gap winds that are currently gusting 30-40
mph.

Instability increases Monday afternoon over far northern ID and
the northeast WA mountains resulting in scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms. Model guidance depicts over 1000 J/kg of
most unstable CAPE near the Canada border but quickly decreases to
below 250 J/kg over Spokane and Lincoln Counties. The expectation
is that storms will develop in the early afternoon and drift
south-southwest toward the Spokane/CdA metro area. The Storm
Prediction Center (SPC) currently paints the northern half of
Lincoln, Spokane, and Kootenai Counties in general thunder Monday.
While severe weather is not anticipated, brief heavy rain, small
hail (<.25"), and gusty winds are all possible in this area
through 2000 Monday. The limited instability will lead to storms
weakening as they approach I90, although gusty outflow winds and
brief heavy rain is still a distinct possibility in the metro
area.

Tuesday through Friday... Following the active first 24 hours
of the forecast period, conditions settle down over the Inland
Northwest. The anomalous trof over the western US is
reinvigorated by a new parent low dropping south out of the
Yukon and into northern British Columbia. This trof will remain
over the Inland Northwest through the week bringing unsettled
conditions...meaning partly to mostly cloudy skies with
afternoon showers and isolated thunderstorms. The lower heights
will also keep temperatures 5-10 degrees F below normal for
this time of year.

4th of July Weekend...Models have consistently started to nudge
the trof to the east on Friday resulting in a building ridge over
the PacNW just in time for the holiday weekend. Temperatures will
begin climbing back closer to normal by Saturday (upper 70s to
lower 80s) and above normal by Sunday (widespread 80s). The upper
level ridge will help clear out the clouds and bring dry
conditions for what looks like a beautiful holiday weekend.
/AB

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAFs: VFR conditions expected at all TAFs through 09Z.
Continued rain will lower ceilings through the night, bringing a
chance of MVFR especially to PUW. PUW has the greatest chances
of dropping to LIFR with ceilings below 500 ft AGL around
11-12Z. Elsewhere, at GEG, SFF, COE, and LWS, high-res models
are showing a 10-30% chance for MVFR conditions. By 20Z, as the
rain comes to an end for just about every terminal but COE,
ceilings will begin improving. Winds will continue to be west
to southwest and gusty, and will continue to be elevated with
most winds 10kts and above through the entirety of the forecast
period. EAT will see the strongest winds, with gusts 30-35kts
already being observed.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS:
Moderate to high confidence in timing of rain. Moderate
confidence in ceilings dropping to MVFR at PUW around 10Z.
Biggest forecast uncertainty lies with ceilings at GEG, SFF,
COE, and LWS. High-res models show a 10-30% chance for MVFR
conditions. Most impactful alternate scenario would require
amendments if ceilings drop below what is in the TAF. /AS

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

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        52  72  51  70  48  73 /  90  30  40  30   0   0
Coeur d`Alene  51  68  50  69  50  72 / 100  60  60  50   0   0
Pullman        46  64  48  68  44  70 /  90  80  20  10   0   0
Lewiston       52  71  51  77  52  78 /  90  90  10  10  10   0
Colville       54  80  52  70  44  74 /  80  40  80  60  30  30
Sandpoint      52  67  50  66  47  70 / 100  70  80  60  10  10
Kellogg        47  61  48  67  48  70 / 100 100  40  50  10  10
Moses Lake     57  81  54  79  48  79 /  30  20  10  10   0   0
Wenatchee      59  80  58  78  55  78 /  10  10  10  10   0   0
Omak           57  85  57  77  52  78 /  30  10  40  40  30  10

&&

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

&&

$$