FXUS66 KOTX 061744
AFDOTX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
944 AM PST SUN DEC 6 2009
.SYNOPSIS...
BLUSTERY NORTH-NORTHEAST WINDS AND MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES CAN
BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE INLAND NORTHWEST THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF
THE WEEKEND. THEN DRY AND UNSEASONABLY COLD WEATHER WILL PERSIST
THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
REST OF TODAY AND TONIGHT...IN GENERAL THE OVERALL PATTERN OVER
THE REGION IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE. A STRONG ARCTIC SURFACE HIGH
PRESSURE OVER SASKATCHEWAN IS DRIVING A RIVER OF FRIGID ARCTIC AIR
DOWN THE PURCELL TRENCH AND TO A LESSER EXTENT THE OKANOGAN VALLEY
THIS MORNING. THIS COLD DENSE AIR IS FLOWING OUT OF THE GAPS AND
INTO THE COLUMBIA BASIN...FOLLOWING GRAVITY OF THE DESCENDING
TERRAIN INTO THE DEEP BASIN. WHILE SIGNIFICANT HIGH AND MID LEVEL
CLOUDS WILL PASS THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA FROM TIME TO TIME
FILTERING THE SUN...OTHER THAN RESIDUAL SNOW SHOWERS/FLURRIES IN
THE CASCADES...PRECIPITATION WILL NOT BE A FACTOR FOR THE NEXT 24
HOURS. THE COLD AND WIND WILL BE THE DOMINANT SENSIBLE WEATHER.
GIVEN CURRENT OBSERVATIONS AND AN EXPECTED CONTINUED STRONG
GRADIENT...THE WIND ADVISORIES ORIGINALLY FOR THE DEEP BASIN ZONES
HAVE BEEN EXPANDED TO COVER THE EASTERN BASIN ZONES AND THE
PURCELL TRENCH OF THE NORTH IDAHO PANHANDLE THROUGH EARLY THIS
EVENING. THE BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY FOR THE WATERVILLE PLATEAU WILL
REMAIN VALID THROUGH TODAY BASED ON LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS OF
REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN BLOWING FRESHLY FALLEN MINOR ACCUMULATIONS
OF SNOW. TEMPERATURES WILL BE ANOTHER POINT OF CONTENTION.
EXPECTED HIGH TEMPERATURES AT MANY LOCATIONS MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN
REACHED FOR TODAY. THUS FORECAST SPOT TEMPERATURES IN THE TABLE
BELOW ARE APPROXIMATE...WITH CURRENT TEMPERATURES AT ANY
PARTICULAR LOCATION EITHER FALLING THROUGH THE DAY OR REMAINING
MORE OR LESS STEADY THROUGH THE REST OF THE DAY. THERE IS A WIND
CHILL WATCH IN EXISTENCE FOR THE IDAHO PANHANDLE. WIND CHILLS OF
-20 ARE REQUIRED TO VERIFY THIS HIGHLIGHT...AND WILL HOLD OFF ON
ADDRESSING THIS HIGHLIGHT UNTIL FINAL OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURE
FORECASTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED WITH THE AFTERNOON PACKAGE. IN ANY
EVENT CONFIDENCE IS CERTAIN FOR WIND CHILLS DROPPING INTO THE MID
TO HIGH TEENS BELOW ZERO IN WINDY LOCATIONS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. /FUGAZZI
&&
.AVIATION...
STRONG ARCTIC ORIGIN HIGH PRESSURE IS BUILDING INTO THE REGION
TODAY...PROMOTING VERY WINDY EASTERLY WIND CONDITIONS AT MOST TAF
SITES THROUGH 06Z TONIGHT...WITH SOME ABATEMENT OVERNIGHT. BLSN
OVER THE WATERVILLE PLATEAU MAY LOCALLY AND BRIEFLY CAUSE REDUCED
VISIBILITIES IN THE KEAT AREA. OTHERWISE VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED
AT ALL TAF SITES WITH VARYING DEGREES OF MID LEVEL CLOUDS AND HIGH
CIRRUS LAYERS.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SPOKANE 18 5 13 1 12 5 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
COEUR D'ALENE 17 3 12 1 13 4 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
PULLMAN 20 5 13 5 12 2 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
LEWISTON 26 12 17 7 17 9 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
COLVILLE 20 3 16 2 15 8 / 0 0 0 0 0 10
SANDPOINT 15 0 8 -2 8 3 / 0 0 0 0 0 10
KELLOGG 15 0 8 0 8 3 / 10 0 0 0 0 10
MOSES LAKE 23 8 18 4 18 4 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
WENATCHEE 23 8 17 -2 17 4 / 10 0 0 0 0 0
OMAK 21 3 18 -1 19 6 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
&&
.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR COEUR D'ALENE
AREA...IDAHO PALOUSE.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING BELOW 3000 FEET FOR
NORTHERN PANHANDLE.
WIND CHILL WATCH FROM 7 PM PST THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING FOR CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS...NORTHERN
PANHANDLE.
WA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR SPOKANE AREA...
WASHINGTON PALOUSE.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
WATERVILLE PLATEAU.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR MOSES LAKE AREA...
UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN.
&&
$$
