321 
FXUS66 KOTX 081734
AFDOTX

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
934 AM PST Tue Jan 8 2013

.SYNOPSIS... 
A strong low pressure system will bring rain and wet snow to the
Inland Northwest today. The East Slopes of the Cascades will
receive locally heavy snow by tonight and the high mountain
elevations around Chewelah and Sandpoint will also receive heavy
snow by this evening. South winds will push temperatures well
above normal on Wednesday. Much colder temperatures will return on
Friday and persist into early next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Made slight changes for timing to the forecast. KOTX sounding
showed plenty of dry air between 700-850mb over the region. This
has slowed the onset of the precipitation reaching the ground,
despite the amount of radar returns. Only trace to a mere
hundredth has been reported beneath the heaviest precipitation
areas. Have decreased the qpf through 18z and also adjusted snow
levels as temperatures have risen above freezing from Moses Lake
to the Waterville Plateau. Did receive some reports of freezing
rain causing icy conditions on I-90 near Moses Lake. This concern
should decrease as the warmer air moves into the area. Also the
timing of the precipitation will be slowed slightly with the main
impacts effecting after 18-20z. /rfox.

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAFs: Light precipitation with a warm front has spread east of 
the Cascade crest with MVFR cigs and a light -rasn mix or -ra with 
this band from KEAT to KMWH. This front will continue to sweep acros 
the region with lowering cigs with the incoming precipitation. As 
the front lifts north, southwest winds will increase with gusts to 
25-30kt overnight. The exception being near KEAT where most of the 
wind will stay aloft and wind shear will be a problem. /rfox. 

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Spokane        37  36  41  24  29  15 / 100  60  50  30  20  20 
Coeur d'Alene  37  35  40  26  30  15 / 100  80  60  40  30  30 
Pullman        42  37  42  25  31  20 /  80  40  50  50  30  30 
Lewiston       48  39  48  31  38  26 /  60  20  30  40  30  20 
Colville       36  36  39  27  30  15 / 100  90  80  30  20  10 
Sandpoint      37  35  40  27  32  15 / 100 100  70  50  40  30 
Kellogg        35  33  38  24  29  20 / 100 100  80  70  60  40 
Moses Lake     37  35  43  25  32  18 /  70  20  20  10  10  10 
Wenatchee      36  34  40  25  31  20 /  50  20  20  10  10  10 
Omak           33  32  38  20  28  12 /  80  70  40  10  10  10 

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...Winter Storm Warning from Noon today to 7 AM PST Wednesday for 
     Northern Panhandle.

WA...Winter Storm Warning from Noon today to 7 AM PST Wednesday for 
     Northeast Mountains.

     Winter Storm Warning until 4 AM PST Wednesday for East Slopes 
     Northern Cascades.

     Winter Weather Advisory from Noon today to 7 AM PST Wednesday 
     for Okanogan Highlands.

&&

$$