996 FXUS66 KOTX 260533 AFDOTX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Spokane WA 1033 PM PDT Thu Jul 25 2019 .SYNOPSIS... Friday will be hot and dry. A cold front Friday night will bring breezy winds across the region through Saturday. This will also drop temperatures back to near normal for the weekend. Seasonal weather with occasional breezy conditions are expected for next week. && .DISCUSSION... Tonight through Saturday Night: Weather will remain quiet tonight into the first half of Friday. Then a cold front will push into the Cascades for the late afternoon and evening hours. The front will sweep across eastern WA and into the Panhandle through the night Friday. Winds will increase with frontal passage with breezy conditions through the Cascade gaps Friday evening/night. The pressure gradient will tighten up in the post frontal air mass on Saturday across the region with the breezy winds spreading out over the basin. Friday will be hot with highs in the 90s. Conditions will be dry as well and fire weather concerns will be heightened through the Cascades gaps as those winds increase on Friday. The good news is that the timing of the winds look to be later in the day with the potential for critical fire weather conditions expected to be limited to a 2-3 hour window. However, during this window, the potential will exist for rapid fire spread for any new or ongoing fires. As already mentioned, Saturday will be a breezy day with temperatures noticeably cooler of about 8-10 degrees compared to Friday. Expect wind gusts of between 25-35 mph. The cold front will be dry east of the Cascades without any precipitation expected. /SVH Sunday-Monday: Nearly zonal flow sets up on Sunday as our weather system that is forecast to bring gusty winds on Saturday kicks out to the east. Consequently, gradients will relax for Sunday with relatively light winds for most areas. Continuing into Monday, our weather pattern will remain mostly unchanged with the exception of some stronger breezes in the Cascade gaps. Temperatures during this period are also forecast to be right near seasonal normals continuing our mild summer here in the Pacific Northwest. Tuesday-Friday: An upper level trough develops just off the West Coast on Tuesday and is forecast by global ensembles to remain relatively stationary through the end of next week. Due to its proximity, this will prevent any major ridging and subsequent warming over our area. In addition to this, being just east of the aforementioned trough all week long will be conducive to afternoon breezes, particularly for the Cascade gaps as strong onshore flow will exist. As one could expect, this will bring elevated fire weather concerns each afternoon but at this point, critical thresholds will likely not be met. Finally, we are not expecting any precipitation for our extended period as the best dynamics and moisture will remain offshore. /Wilson && .AVIATION... 06Z TAFS: High pressure will linger through early Friday, while the next cold front approaches the Cascades later Friday. Expect light and diurnal winds with just a few high and mid level clouds through early Friday. Winds then increase later Friday near the Cascades, with some gusty winds develops toward the end of this TAF period near EAT and MWH. The front may also bring some light showers to the Cascade crest late Friday, away from TAF sites. A weak disturbance passing by just south of the LWS/PUW will also lead to some increased clouds here, but the main threat of showers is expected to remain south. /Cote' && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Spokane 57 92 60 83 55 84 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Coeur d'Alene 55 91 59 82 56 83 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pullman 51 90 57 81 51 82 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lewiston 58 98 66 90 61 90 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Colville 47 96 52 88 46 88 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sandpoint 49 88 56 81 51 81 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kellogg 56 88 61 79 58 80 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Moses Lake 56 98 62 87 57 89 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wenatchee 61 95 67 83 61 86 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 Omak 58 95 63 86 58 88 / 0 0 0 0 0 0 && .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ID...None. WA...Fire Weather Watch from Friday afternoon through Friday evening for East Washington South Central Cascade Valleys (Zone 676). && $$