textproduct: Spokane

KEY MESSAGES

- Extensive amounts of smoke will continue over the region this week, maintaining unhealthy air quality.

- Temperatures steadily continue to warm with highs above normal through the end of the week. Thursday and Friday will be the warmest days of the week.

- Dry conditions and breezy winds increase Friday and Saturday across portions of central Washington, bringing elevated fire weather conditions.

SYNOPSIS

High pressure continues across the region this week, bringing steadily warmer and drier conditions each day. Wildfire smoke will bring degraded air quality for the Inland Northwest. Breezy winds increase late in the week, leading to increased fire weather conditions Friday and Saturday. Cooler conditions expected for start of next week.

DISCUSSION

Tuesday through Thursday: Broad ridge pattern will keep dry, warm conditions over the region for the next several days. Winds will be light, diurnal driven with strongest winds along the east side of the Cascades. Wind gusts will be in the teens for the area. For temperatures, highs will climb into the 90s with humidity in the teens. There is a 50-70% probability for portions of the Lower Columbia Basin, including Wenatchee and Lewiston, on reaching 100 on Thursday. Wildfire smoke will play a big part on the highs. It could possible shave off a few degrees. Overnight lows will be in the 50s to low 60s.

Friday and Saturday: A weak trough will press into the region. It will bring a zonal flow pattern. Winds will increase as warm dry conditions continue. Winds will be West with sustained speeds in the teens and gusts into the 30s. One major difference from August 1 is the lack of strong low level winds. 850-700mb winds are only reaching into the 15-25 mph range compared to the 30-40 mph from August 1. It is still an elevated to critical fire weather period due to the continued hot and dry conditions with the breezy winds. Highs will be in the upper 80s and 90s with humidity in the teens to low 20s. Overnight lows will be in the 50s to low 60s.

Sunday through Monday: Cooler air mass will filter into the region. There is still no decent chance of of precip expected on for the period. Highs will dip into the 80s. Lows will be in the upper 40s and 50s. /JDC

AVIATION

18Z TAFs: Wildfire smoke will continue to limit visibility across the area. Most locations have visibility lowered to MVFR to IFR thresholds in WA, with EAT remaining LIFR as smoke drains down the river valley. Most locations not seeing ceilings, through smoke at times may create a 2500-3500 ft cig where smoke is thickest. North ID terminals remain VFR. Mostly light and variable winds will not allow for significant improvement in visibility until this evening as winds become light W/NW across eastern WA and north ID. Winds become light and variable again overnight.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Moderate confidence in winds. Moderate confidence for smoke impacts bringing MVFR to IFR visibilities for area TAF sites. Low confidence in periods of ceilings due to thick smoke.

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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 85 53 90 56 94 59 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Coeur d'Alene 84 54 88 56 93 59 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pullman 83 43 88 50 91 53 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lewiston 89 57 94 60 99 64 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Colville 86 42 91 49 94 53 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sandpoint 82 45 86 51 91 54 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kellogg 80 50 85 54 89 57 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Moses Lake 89 52 93 57 96 59 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wenatchee 90 63 94 65 97 67 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Omak 90 57 94 60 97 63 / 0 0 0 0 0 0

OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WA...Air Quality Alert until further notice for Adams, Asotin, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, and Whitman Counties ID...Air Quality Alert until noon PDT Wednesday for Boundary, Bonner, Benewah, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, and Nez Perce, and Shoshone Counties