Rathdrum, Idaho 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

036
FXUS66 KOTX 040701
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
1201 AM PDT Mon May 4 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Breezy winds developing down the Okanogan Valley, Washington
  Central Basin and north Idaho Panhandle Purcell Trench
  tonight into Monday.

- Minor to locally moderate HeatRisk through the middle of next
  week. This level of heat primarily affects those who are
  sensitive to heat.

- Dangerously cold water temperatures poses a high risk for cold
  water shock and hypothermia for anyone who unexpectedly falls
  in. Wear a life jacket if recreating on or near the water.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
A prolonged period of above normal temperatures will continue
through at least May 9th despite a brief cool down on Tuesday.
Expect some breezes Monday and Tuesday as cooler air moves in
from Canada. Longer range predictions favor elevated chances of
warmer than normal temperatures for the middle of May as well.
Conditions will be dry outside small chances for mountain
showers in the north Idaho Panhandle near Canada Wednesday and
again Saturday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Today through Tuesday: A dry northerly flow with a ridge edging
in from the west will dominate the pattern. Variable middle to
high clouds slip over the region over the next couple days, but
the weather remains dry. Winds will be gusty from the north to
northeast. Speeds of 10-20 mph, with gusts of 20-30 mph will be
possible. The stronger of these are expected down the Okanogan
Valley southward into the Basin. Winds abate tonight and start to
shift to the east to southeast heading into Tuesday, becoming
breezy again in the afternoon across the basin with gusts near
20-30 mph again. Temperatures push into the 70s and 80s, with the
warmest temperatures today and a slight cool-down Tuesday.

Wednesday to Sunday: The period starts with a warm temperatures
and shortwave flattening the ridge over the region by later
Wednesday, then a more progressive pattern comes for Thursday to
Sunday. The area remains largely dry with a few exceptions, but
a bit of increased cloud cover is in the forecast. The wave
passing Wednesday will bring slight shower and t-storm chances
over north Idaho and along the ID/MT border late Wednesday. Some
shower chances linger near this area on Thursday afternoon too.
The more notable feature of the passing wave looks to be another
surge in winds by later Wednesday afternoon and evening, especially
near the Cascades and western basin. Speeds of 10-20 mph are
possible there, with gusts of 20-40 mph. Ensembles show a 60-80%
chance of wind gusts of 30 mph or greater and 2540% chance of
gusts of 40 mph or greater. It will also be warm and dry, with
afternoon highs in the mid 70s to 80s, with some areas near 90 in
the deeper basin; RH values will fall into the teens to mid-20s in
this stronger wind area. So we will be watching for any fire
weather concerns again.

Other minor mountain shower chances are forecast for Friday and
Saturday afternoon with the next passing wave, but for the most
part it remains dry. Yet winds also increase again Friday with
that wave, with the forecast showing speeds of 15-30 mph and gusts
of 20-40 mph and locally up to 50 mph possible. The strongest
winds are forecast over the lee of Cascades into the western basin
and near the Blue Mountains. There is currently a 50-90% chance
of wind gusts of 30 mph or greater, a 30-70% of 40 mph or
greater, and 20-50% chance of 50 mph or greater for Friday. It
remains breezy through the weekend too, but not as strong. Highs
will be in the mid-70s to upper 80s Thursday, cool to the 70s to
low 80s Friday and Saturday, then warm up again toward Sunday.
/Solveig

&&

.AVIATION...
06Z TAFS: VFR conditions expected through the forecast period.
Few to scattered high clouds will continue to pass through the
region. There will be a noticeable increase in north winds down
the Okanogan Valley which will fan into central Columbia Basin
tonight into Monday. Similar winds are forecast Monday morning
for KCOE which will spread into the eastern Columbia Basin.
Other gusty winds are expected in the afternoon around KGEG/
KSFF/KMWH. Outside the increase in winds, aviation impacts will
be minimal.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS:
High confidence in VFR conditions and increasing north to
northeast winds across the region. Wind gusts could be stronger
than forecast for locations like KOMK, KSZT, and KCOE.

-----------------------
Confidence descriptors:

Low - Less than a 30 percent chance
Moderate - 30 to 70 percent chance
High - Greater than a 70 percent chance

For additional probabilistic information for NWS Spokane
airports, please refer to the Aviation Dashboard on our
webpage: https:/www.weather.gov/otx/avndashboard

&&

.Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs...
Spokane        76  49  72  46  79  52 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Coeur d`Alene  74  46  69  44  75  49 /   0   0   0   0   0  10
Pullman        75  47  70  46  75  52 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Lewiston       80  50  76  49  81  55 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Colville       80  45  77  44  82  46 /  10  10   0   0   0  10
Sandpoint      70  45  67  44  73  48 /   0   0   0   0   0  20
Kellogg        72  45  67  44  73  49 /   0   0   0   0  10  10
Moses Lake     85  53  82  51  86  52 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Wenatchee      85  58  82  57  85  56 /   0  10   0   0   0   0
Omak           84  53  82  52  85  52 /   0   0   0   0   0   0

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...None.
ID...None.

&&

$$