FXUS66 KOTX 031732 AFDOTX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Spokane WA 1032 AM PDT Thu Jul 3 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - A chance of showers on Independence Day. - Thunderstorm chances in far southeastern Washington and the southern and central Idaho Panhandle on Independence Day. - Hot temperatures arrive on Tuesday of next week, possibly persisting through the week. && .SYNOPSIS... Temperatures will cool into the 80s for Thursday with a chance of showers on Independence Day. Thunderstorm potential also exists on Independence day for far southeastern Washington and the central and southern Idaho Panhandle. Hot temperatures arrive on Tuesday of next week and may persist through the week. && .DISCUSSION... Today through tonight: As the ridge moves out of the area, temperatures drop further today, with highs 6-7 degrees lower than yesterday. Some breezy winds remain, but will not be as strong as yesterday's winds. Dry conditions and clear skies prevail. Friday through Saturday: As Independence Day nears, models are hinting at a more active weather pattern than initially thought. A low pressure system passing to our south will usher a shortwave in, increasing the chances for precipitation Friday afternoon and evening. Precipitation chances will be highest in far southeastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle, but cannot be ruled out for Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, as well as in the northern Cascades. Lift generated by the incoming shortwave will result in a small chance for thunderstorms, particularly in far southeastern Washington and into the central and southern Idaho Panhandle. Highest chances for thunder are 10- 15 percent, but a very close eye will be kept on both thunderstorm and rainfall potential considering the holiday. Bigger potential for thunderstorms arrives Saturday, as the shortwave is moving out of the forecast area. On Saturday afternoon and evening, thunderstorm chances move northward and into northeastern Washington and the Northern Idaho Panhandle. NBM probabilities show a 15-20 percent chance of thunder for the far northern Idaho Panhandle. Sunday through Wednesday: Models are now in good agreement of a warmup beginning Sunday as a ridge moves through. This ridge will strengthen at the beginning of next week and bring a return to temperatures in the high 90s. Right now extended models show Wednesday as the hottest day, with temperatures in the high 90s with places like Lewiston, Wenatchee, Colville, Moses Lake, and deeper Basin areas seeing triple digits. Keep an eye out as heat headlines may be needed. /AS && .AVIATION... 18Z TAFS: VFR conditions will continue through the TAF period. Winds will be breezy on Thursday across the Inland Northwest with gusts up to 20 knots. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: High confidence in conditions remaining VFR. ----------------------- 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 55 82 57 82 55 86 / 0 20 20 10 0 0 Coeur d'Alene 55 80 57 80 55 85 / 0 20 20 10 0 0 Pullman 52 75 51 79 51 83 / 0 40 30 0 0 0 Lewiston 63 82 62 88 60 92 / 10 50 50 0 0 0 Colville 47 84 49 81 48 84 / 0 20 20 20 0 10 Sandpoint 50 79 54 75 51 82 / 0 20 30 30 10 10 Kellogg 58 77 58 75 57 81 / 0 30 40 20 0 0 Moses Lake 55 85 58 87 56 91 / 0 20 20 0 0 0 Wenatchee 60 86 62 87 61 90 / 0 20 20 0 0 0 Omak 57 86 59 87 57 89 / 0 20 20 10 0 0 && .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WA...None. ID...None. && $$