298 
FXUS66 KOTX 211810
AFDOTX

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1010 AM PST SAT NOV 21 2009

.SYNOPSIS...
AFTER A SHORT RELATIVELY QUIET BREAK IN THE WEATHER TODAY...A
STRONGER AND COLDER STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR
MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL OVER MUCH OF THE REGION TONIGHT AND
SUNDAY. A SERIES OF STORM SYSTEMS WILL CONTINUE TO PASS THROUGH
THE INLAND NORTHWEST EVERY 24 TO 36 HOURS THROUGH AT LEAST THE
MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.


&&

.DISCUSSION...
QUICK UPDATE THIS MORNING TO DECREASE CLOUDS AND POPS ACROSS THE 
BASIN AND NORTHERN VALLEYS. VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWING 
VERY LITTLE IN THE WAY OF CLOUDS AT THIS HOUR AND SHOWER ACTIVITY
IS MAINLY CONFINED TO THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE CASCADES AND IDAHO 
PANHANDLE. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWING A FAST MOVING STORM SYSTEM 
BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE OUT NEAR 135W 45N WHICH WILL BRING OUR 
NEXT ROUND OF WINTRY WEATHER OVERNIGHT INTO SUNDAY.



&&

.AVIATION...
A WEAK RIDGE ALOFT WILL PROMOTE VFR CONDITIONS AT ALL TAF SITES
THROUGH 03Z TONIGHT...WITH LINGERING SNOW SHOWERS LOCALLY
OBSCURING MOUNTAINS IN THE IDAHO PANHANDLE AND CASCADE CREST. 
THE NEXT PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL SPREAD IFR CEILINGS TO THE
WESTERN REACHES OF THE REGION AFTER 04Z...SPREADING INTO THE
EASTERN TERMINALS AFT 10Z. THE INCOMING STORM SYSTEM WILL 
ALSO TIGHTEN PRESSURE GRADIENTS LEADING TO INCREASING WINDS 
FROM KPUW-KGEG WITH GUSTS OF 25-35KTS.



&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SPOKANE        39  32  37  27  39  31 /  10  70  90  10  40  10 
COEUR D'ALENE  39  31  37  28  40  31 /  20  60  90  20  50  20 
PULLMAN        40  32  36  28  42  32 /  20  60  90  20  40  20 
LEWISTON       47  36  41  30  48  35 /  10  60  90  20  30  20 
COLVILLE       39  33  40  28  38  30 /  10 100  90  10  60  20 
SANDPOINT      33  32  37  28  36  30 /  40  90  90  20  60  30 
KELLOGG        32  30  34  27  35  30 /  70  70 100  40  60  40 
MOSES LAKE     45  32  43  26  43  30 /  10  80  50   0  40  10 
WENATCHEE      43  32  43  29  41  33 /  10  90  50  10  50  10 
OMAK           43  31  42  25  40  27 /  10 100  50   0  60  10 

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR 
     COEUR D'ALENE AREA.

     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 6 PM PST THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY 
     MORNING FOR NORTHERN PANHANDLE.

     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON 
     ABOVE 2500 FEET FOR CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS.

WA...     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR 
     SPOKANE AREA.

     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 6 PM PST THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY 
     MORNING FOR EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES.

     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 6 PM PST THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY 
     MORNING ABOVE 2000 FEET FOR NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS...OKANOGAN 
     HIGHLANDS.

     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 6 PM PST THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY 
     MORNING ABOVE 2000 FEET FOR OKANOGAN VALLEY...UPPER 
     COLUMBIA BASIN...WATERVILLE PLATEAU.

&&

$$