481 
fxus66 kotx 071502 
afdotx 


Area forecast discussion 
National Weather Service Spokane Washington 
702 am PST Sat Nov 7 2009 


Synopsis... 
heavy snow is expected over the high elevations of the inland 
northwest today and tonight. The mountains of northeast 
Washington...northern Idaho...and portions of the Cascades can 
expect big accumulations by Sunday morning. Monday will be a 
relatively dry day for the inland northwest...but another storm 
system will bring rain and high elevation snow to the region 
Monday night into Tuesday. 




&& 


Discussion... 


A forecast update has been issued to lower precipitation chances 
this morning over a good chunk of eastern Washington. It appears 
that this morning's shortwave has come through faster and weaker 
than the 00z and 06z models suggested. 14z infrared satellite 
shows cooling cloud tops approaching the olympic peninsula...but 
the Omega with this wave probably won't impact the Spokane 
forecast area until afternoon. Surface pressure rises into the 
Columbia Basin suggest that precipitation chances will be low in 
the Moses Lake area and possibly as far East Spokane this morning. 


A weaker and faster wave this morning could potentially cut into 
the snowfall totals for the mountains of Idaho and northeast 
Washington. We were counting on a solid 3-6 inches this morning in 
the high elevations to reach Winter Storm Warning criteria. Snow 
totals may need to be adjusted downward. /Gkoch 


&& 


Aviation... 
a pair of fast moving storm systems will move through Washington 
today and tonight. Look for precipitation to begin in the 
Spokane...Pullman...and Lewiston areas around 15z and continue 
through 18-19z. Temporary MVFR ceilings are possible for a couple of 
hours at kgeg...kcoe...ksff...and kpuw before precipitation quickly 
clears these airports. The second round of precipitation will spread 
across eastern Washington shortly after 00z. Look for possible MVFR 
ceilings again at the same terminals between 04z and 08z. /Gkoch 








&& 


Preliminary point temps/pops... 
Spokane 45 34 43 32 46 35 / 30 80 20 10 0 60 
Coeur D'Alene 45 34 43 32 47 34 / 40 80 30 10 0 50 
Pullman 47 35 48 30 53 36 / 60 70 20 0 0 40 
Lewiston 54 38 53 36 55 41 / 30 40 20 0 0 30 
Colville 45 34 46 32 46 32 / 50 90 20 10 10 80 
Sandpoint 42 35 41 32 43 33 / 90 90 40 10 0 60 
Kellogg 40 33 38 31 43 33 / 90 100 60 10 0 50 
Moses Lake 52 34 50 32 50 33 / 10 70 10 10 20 60 
Wenatchee 50 35 48 35 47 36 / 10 30 0 10 30 50 
Omak 48 33 46 34 46 29 / 20 70 10 10 20 60 


&& 


Otx watches/warnings/advisories... 
Idaho...Winter Storm Warning until 4 am PST Sunday above 3500 feet for 
northern Panhandle. 


Winter Storm Warning until 4 am PST Sunday above 4000 feet for 
central Panhandle mountains. 


Washington...Winter Storm Warning until 4 am PST Sunday above 3500 feet for 
northeast mountains. 


&& 


$$