FXUS66 KOTX 220552 AFDOTX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Spokane WA 1052 PM PDT Sat Mar 21 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Hydrology: St Joe and Coeur d'Alene Rivers near bankfull with additional small rises into Sunday. Stehekin River falling but levels still high - Next system: Unsettled weather returns Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing valley rain, mountain rain and snow, and breezy to windy conditions && .SYNOPSIS... Dry weather will continue through Monday with colder night temperatures. Unsettled weather is forecast to return Tuesday and Wednesday as the next low pressure system brings valley rain, mountain rain and snow, and breezy to windy conditions. && .DISCUSSION... Tonight through Monday: Drier air is moving into the region today behind a cold front as noted by surface dewpoints in Central Washington dropping into the teens and 20s, and even single digits in the Methow Valley. As pressure gradients relax tonight and skies clear, temperatures will be much cooler with lows in the 20s to low 30s due to strong radiational cooling. We are not in the climatological growing season yet, but with the mild March it is worth noting that any early bloomers or eager planters will have cold temps to contend with tonight. The dry air persists on Sunday with passing high clouds over northern Washington and Idaho, and seasonal high temperatures in the 50s. On Monday another dry day is in store, but slightly warmer as southwest flow develops ahead of an approaching weather system. Tuesday: This is the wettest day of the 7 day forecast. A moist southwest-northeast frontal boundary takes aim at the region as precipitable water values increase to 200-250% of normal. Thankfully, this boundary is a quick hitter, lasting only 12-18 hours. Thus, while some additional river and stream rises are forecast, the rise is expected to be brief with lower river levels in the Cascades and ID Panhandle compared to those observed this weekend. Snow levels initially start off 3500-5000 feet but quickly rise with the incoming warmer air. NBM shows a 30% chance of 1" or more of snow at Stevens and Sherman Passes before snow level climb. Rainfall amounts are expected to be between 0.25-0.50" inches for Eastern Washington and North Idaho except locally higher near the Cascade crest and ID Panhandle. Less than a tenth of an inch if forecast for most of Central Washington. Wednesday through next Saturday: As a cold front pushes east snow levels fall again with post frontal westerly flow favoring the best chances for snow showers along the Cascade crest and ID Panhandle. Yet the NBM isn't showing much snow for most of our mountains, with the Cascade crest passes most favored for snow. The NBM from 5 AM Wednesday to 5 AM Saturday for Stevens Pass is showing a 70% chance for 4" or more, 50% chance for 6" or more, and 15% chance for 12" or more. Finally, Wednesday has the potential to be a windy day behind the cold front. For the typical windy spots (Wenatchee area, Columbia Basin, West Plains, Palouse) the NBM is carrying a 50-70% chance of gusts exceeding 40 MPH. JW && .AVIATION... 00Z TAFS: Drier air continues to move into the region. Winds will calm as the region stabilizes behind Saturdays system. VFR conditions will continue for all TAF sites through Sunday. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: High confidence in VFR conditions for all TAF sites through 00z Monday. JDC ----------------------- 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 29 52 32 57 41 51 / 0 0 0 0 10 90 Coeur d'Alene 30 50 32 56 40 50 / 0 0 0 0 20 100 Pullman 30 50 35 55 43 53 / 0 0 0 0 10 90 Lewiston 34 55 37 60 46 58 / 0 0 0 0 10 80 Colville 24 55 30 57 38 50 / 0 0 0 0 10 100 Sandpoint 30 50 31 53 38 46 / 10 0 0 0 20 100 Kellogg 31 49 34 56 41 50 / 0 0 0 0 20 100 Moses Lake 30 59 34 60 43 58 / 0 0 0 0 0 70 Wenatchee 34 57 35 57 42 53 / 0 0 0 0 10 80 Omak 30 56 34 58 41 54 / 0 0 0 0 0 90 && .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WA...None. ID...None. && $$