196 
fxus66 kotx 052128 
afdotx 


Area forecast discussion 
National Weather Service Spokane Washington 
228 PM PDT Sat Jul 5 2008 


Synopsis...expect near normal temperatures and a dry forecast 
through the rest of the Holiday weekend for the lower elevations. 
Temperatures will begin a warming trend Monday...peaking by 
Wednesday. Its not until Thursday and Friday that a cold front 
will move off the Pacific and usher in a cooler air mass for the 
weekend. 




&& 


Discussion... 
tonight through Monday night...upper level low is getting ready to 
move into British Columbia this evening. A shortwave is moving 
around the south side of the low and will move into 
Washington/Oregon this evening. As it moves over the inland 
northwest overnight it will shear apart and weaken. Only 
anticipating an increase in high level clouds overnight. Both the 
GFS and NAM have been showing some light precipitation falling across the 
north Idaho Panhandle early Sunday morning. Have added a slight 
chance of moutain rain showers for the morning period. GFS shows 
some decent moisture associated with and and could see some 
orographic showers in the morning. Sunday will be another pleasant 
day as the ridge starts to build once again across the west. 
Temperatures will be at average readings Sunday. Then Monday as 
the ridge builds further over the area daytime temperatures will 
reach 3-5 degrees above average. By Monday night decent inversions 
will set up for a return to warm min temperatures and lower maximum relative humidity values 
for the midslopes. /Nisbet 


Tuesday through Saturday...dry and very warm conditions prevail 
through the end of the work week as a middle level ridge builds over 
the region. Temperatures will be on a gradual upward trend through 
midweek. 850mb temperatures peak on Wednesday when readings reach 
around 23c. This will translate to most valley locations in the 90s. 
By Thursday an upper level low starts to drop down out of the Gulf 
of Alaska flattening the ridge a bit. This will mean slightly cooler 
temperatures for the end of the workweek but readings will remain 
above seasonal normals. There is general agreement that the ridge 
will start to break down by the weekend but there is low confidence 
in the timing. The only change to the extended forecast is to 
introduce a slight chance of thunderstorms to the higher elevations 
Saturday afternoon. /Kelch 




&& 


Aviation... 
VFR conditions expected at all taf sites through 18z Sunday. 
High level clouds will increase as a weak wave passes over the area 
late this afternoon and overnight. Occasional wind gusts to 20 knots is expected 
for most terminals under a nearly uniform SW flow from the surface to 
750mb. 




&& 


Preliminary point temps/pops... 
Spokane 57 80 54 84 56 86 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Coeur D'Alene 56 80 52 83 53 84 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Pullman 55 79 49 82 49 85 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Lewiston 63 86 58 90 57 94 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Colville 56 83 52 86 51 90 / 10 0 0 0 0 0 
Sandpoint 57 78 50 81 48 82 / 10 0 0 0 0 0 
Kellogg 57 77 53 80 51 82 / 10 10 0 0 0 0 
Moses Lake 59 87 57 90 57 93 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Wenatchee 61 84 59 89 61 91 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Omak 55 85 54 89 55 92 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 


&& 


Otx watches/warnings/advisories... 
Idaho...none. 
Washington...none. 
&& 


$$