476 FXUS66 KOTX 012349 AFDOTX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Spokane WA 349 PM PST Tue Feb 1 2022 .SYNOPSIS... Much colder temperatures are expected Wednesday with another round of snow Wednesday afternoon and evening. The cooler weather pattern will continue through Thursday with on and off chances for light snow showers in the mountains and Idaho Panhandle. The next round of precipitation will arrive Friday with drier and warmer conditions for the weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Tonight and Wednesday: With a strong ridge over the eastern Pacific and a deep trough over the central US, the Pacific NW remains in a northwesterly flow aloft. A wave embedded within the flow is producing moderate to heavy snow showers across eastern Washington and the Panhandle this afternoon, with the heaviest showers over the Washington Palouse and the Blues. Showers will decrease this evening and overnight with drier air and clearer skies moving in overnight as the ridge noses inland. As the deep trough over the Central US moves east, a northerly 140-160 kt upper level jet on the eastern side of the ridge will bring dry and cold Arctic air into the region with clearing skies overnight. This will result in tonight's lows temperatures dropping into the single digits across the northern half of Washington and the Idaho Panhandle. Lows will be in the low to mid teens for the central Cascade Valleys, the Columbia Basin and the Palouse with the L-C valley in the low 20s. With road temperatures currently in the upper 30s across this region, snow likely melted on contact with the surface. As a result, refreezing moisture is expected after sundown. Slippery travel will result this evening through tomorrow morning. Fog and low stratus will be possible across the northern valleys Wednesday morning, but the extent doesn't look to be as widespread as Tuesday morning with the drier air moving in. By late Wednesday morning, the region looks to return to the northwest flow, with another shortwave to move into the region. Snow will begin over the Cascades late Wednesday morning and spread east into the eastern third of Washington and the Idaho Panhandle by the afternoon. Snow will continue into Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Models have been trending upward with the QPF with each model run. While this system won't be very strong, our favorable upslope locations in the Cascades, the Palouse, and the Camas Prairie could up to couple inches of snow through Thursday. Stevens Pass looks to receive around 5 to 9 inches. Around 1 to 3 inches is expected for the Palouse and the Camas Prairie. vmt Thursday and Friday: Cascades snow showers will continue Thursday with light scattered snow across parts of the southern ID Panhandle and far southeastern WA. After an evening of snow, Stevens Pass may receive another inch or two during the day with a few tenths in the Panhandle. After the cold, arctic air, temperatures will be on the rise with highs in the upper 20s and 30s with lows in the teens and 20s. On Friday, a shortwave will bring moisture from the Gulf of Alaska and dampen the ridge leading to another round of precipitation for the Inland NW. Coming from the northwest, snow will arrive in the Cascades and northern mountains mid-day Friday. Throughout the remainder of the day into early Saturday, a rain shadow will keep most light snow to the Panhandle and far eastern WA with moderate snow in the mountains. Little to no accumulations likely in the lower elevations with above freezing temps. Refreezing moisture is possible on surfaces in the evenings. A tight pressure gradient will create some breezy winds, with gusts to 35 mph across the Palouse and West Plains on Friday afternoon. Saturday through Monday: Following the wave passage, the ridge will re-strengthen keeping the weekend dry with seasonal temperatures. Highs will be back in the mid 30s to low 40s with lows in the teens and 20s. Looking further into next week, the CPC 6 to 10 day outlook has temperatures favoring near to above normal and drier than normal conditions. JS && .AVIATION... 00Z TAFS: Snow showers continue across the Palouse and southern Panhandle. Any showers will have the potential for a brief period of light to moderate snow with local restrictions in VIS and ceilings. The showers will decrease tonight with drier air and clearing skies. Low stratus and fog will be possible across the northern valleys tonight into tomorrow morning for locations such as Republic, Colville, Sandpoint, and Bonners Ferry. The low stratus will return by mid-day with the chance for scattered snow showers to return to most TAF sites. JS && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Spokane 9 24 20 32 27 37 / 0 10 40 20 0 30 Coeur d'Alene 9 24 19 32 28 38 / 10 10 40 20 10 30 Pullman 15 28 24 33 28 39 / 20 10 50 20 10 20 Lewiston 21 33 27 40 30 45 / 20 10 40 20 0 10 Colville 7 23 12 30 21 33 / 0 10 30 10 0 40 Sandpoint 5 20 16 29 24 35 / 10 10 30 20 10 60 Kellogg 3 22 19 31 27 38 / 20 10 40 30 10 40 Moses Lake 14 28 18 33 23 36 / 0 10 10 10 0 10 Wenatchee 17 26 19 32 22 36 / 10 10 10 10 0 20 Omak 11 23 17 29 20 33 / 10 10 20 10 0 20 && .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ID...None. WA...None. && $$