FXUS66 KOTX 222125 AFDOTX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Spokane WA 225 PM PDT Sun Mar 22 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Unsettled weather returns Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing valley rain, mountain rain and snow, breezy to windy conditions - Falling river levels on Stehekin, Coeur d'Alene, and St Joe Rivers into Monday, and then another rise for mid-week && .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. A return to warm, dry conditions expected by weeks end. && .DISCUSSION... Tonight through Monday: Another night of dry air and light winds will lead to strong raditional cooling for tonight with lows in the 20s to mid 30s. Passing high clouds may keep temperatures from dropping to full potential, but is not expected to limit the temperature fall much. On Monday southwest flow ahead of an approaching weather system will bring milder afternoon temperatures, reaching the 50s to low 60s. Monday Night and Tuesday: This is the wettest day of the 7 day forecast. A moist southwest-northeast frontal boundary takes aim at the region on Tuesday as precipitable water values increase to 200-250% of normal. Models still show this system to be 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 no main-stem river flooding expected. Snow levels initially start off 3500-5000 feet but quickly rise to 5500-7500 feet by Tuesday evening with the incoming warmer air. Around 1" of snow is forecast for Stevens and Sherman Passes Tuesday morning before snow level climb. Rainfall amounts are expected to be between 0.35-0.75" inches for Eastern Washington and North Idaho except locally higher near the Cascade crest and ID Panhandle mountains. Less than a tenth of an inch if forecast for most of Central Washington. Wednesday: As a surface low associated with this weather system pushes east into British Columbia, it sends a cold front through the region with showers becoming confined to mainly the Cascade crest and ID Panhandle Mountains. The chance for 1" or more of snow is 90 percent for Stevens Pass, and 30 percent for Lookout Pass. The front will bring an increase in winds, but some uncertainty still remains with precise speeds. Similar to yesterday, the NBM continues to carry a 50-70% chance of gusts exceeding 40 MPH for the Wenatchee area, Columbia Basin, West Plains, and Palouse. The chance for gusts greater than 50 MPH is 10-20% for these same areas. Thursday through next Sunday: Models have trended towards high pressure building for late in the week for warmer and drier conditions. Currently the NBM is showing a 70-80% chance that the mild and dry weather extends into Sunday as well. JW && .AVIATION... 18Z TAFS: VFR conditions will continue for all TAF sites through 18z Monday. Steady southwest winds will gust to 15kts at times in the afternoon across the northern mountains and mountain valleys including KGEG and KSFF from 19-02z. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: High confidence in VFR conditions for all TAF sites through 18z Monday. JW ----------------------- 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 33 57 42 51 39 51 / 0 0 10 90 70 30 Coeur d'Alene 32 57 39 5140 51 / 0 0 10 100 90 50 Pullman 35 57 42 53 40 48 / 0 0 10 90 90 60 Lewiston 38 61 46 58 46 55 / 0 0 10 80 80 50 Colville 31 59 38 50 37 55 / 0 0 10 100 70 40 Sandpoint 32 54 37 46 39 52 / 0 0 10 100 90 60 Kellogg 35 56 42 51 40 47 / 0 0 10 90 100 70 Moses Lake 33 61 44 57 39 59 / 0 0 0 80 30 10 Wenatchee 36 58 42 54 38 55 / 0 0 0 90 30 20 Omak 34 59 42 53 38 58 / 0 0 10 90 40 20 && .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WA...None. ID...None. && $$