FXUS66 KOTX 240545
AFDOTX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
945 PM PST WED DEC 23 2009
.SYNOPSIS...
STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WILL GRADUALLY BUILD OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
THIS RIDGE IS EXPECTED TO PERSIST THROUGH NEXT WEEK...RESULTING IN
LITTLE IF ANY CHANCE OF MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION. IT WILL ALSO
BRING INCREASING CHANCES FOR FOG AND LOW CLOUDS IN THE VALLEYS.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
UPDATE...THE INLAND NW REMAINS IN A NWLY STEERING FLOW AS A RIDGE
BUILDS OFF THE PACIFIC COAST. THIS RIDGE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD
ONSHORE OVERNIGHT INTO FRIDAY. HIGHER CLOUDS WHICH HAVE BEEN
PASSING THE REGION HAVE BEGUN TO THIN...REVEALING SOME OF THE
LOWER STRATUS AROUND THE L-C VALLEY AND PALOUSE. WITH LITTLE
IMPETUS FOR FURTHER DRYING OVERNIGHT (WITH LIGHT WINDS BECOMING
SOUTHEASTERLY) THIS STRATUS IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN PLACE. ADDED
SOME PATCHY FOG TO THAT AREA TOO...BUT CONFIDENCE IS LESS ON THAT
FEATURE. SOME HIGH CLOUDS WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM OVER THE REST OF
THE AREA TONIGHT...WITH VARIABLE COVERAGE. ASIDE FROM THE ADDITION
OF PATCHY FOG...MAKE TWEAKS TO SKY COVER AND TEMPERATURES BUT THEY
ARE GENERALLY ON TRACK TO COLDER TONIGHT THAN LAST NIGHT. /JCOTE
&&
.AVIATION...
06Z TAF...PREDOMINANT ELY VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE PERIOD AS A
RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE INLAND NW. THE MAIN EXCEPTION WILL BE AROUND
KPUW AND KLWS...WHERE STRATUS LINGERS. THIS WILL PRODUCE MVFR/LCL
IFR CIGS IN THIS REGION THROUGH 15-18Z. THE DEVELOPING E TO SE
FLOW COULD PROPEL SOME OF THIS STRATUS TOWARD THE KGEG-KSFF-KCOE
CORRIDOR OVERNIGHT/EARLY THURSDAY...BUT AT THIS TIME IS IT
PROJECTED TO REMAIN JUST SOUTH. /JCOTE
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SPOKANE 14 26 14 26 17 29 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
COEUR D'ALENE 15 26 15 27 16 28 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
PULLMAN 19 26 17 30 19 29 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
LEWISTON 23 31 19 29 19 32 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
COLVILLE 12 24 12 27 15 29 / 0 0 0 0 0 10
SANDPOINT 14 23 13 25 13 28 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
KELLOGG 12 23 13 25 12 27 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
MOSES LAKE 15 28 13 27 13 29 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
WENATCHEE 19 28 19 26 18 29 / 0 0 0 0 0 10
OMAK 12 26 10 25 15 28 / 0 0 0 0 0 10
&&
.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY FROM 4 AM THURSDAY TO 4 PM PST SATURDAY
FOR CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS...COEUR D'ALENE AREA...
IDAHO PALOUSE...LEWIS AND SOUTHERN NEZ PERCE COUNTIES...
LEWISTON AREA...NORTHERN PANHANDLE.
WA...AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY FROM 4 AM THURSDAY TO 4 PM PST SATURDAY
FOR EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES...LOWER GARFIELD AND
ASOTIN COUNTIES...MOSES LAKE AREA...NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS...
OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS...OKANOGAN VALLEY...SPOKANE AREA...UPPER
COLUMBIA BASIN...WASHINGTON PALOUSE...WATERVILLE PLATEAU...
WENATCHEE AREA.
&&
$$
