Sandpoint, Idaho 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

144
FXUS66 KOTX 110432
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
932 PM PDT Mon Mar 10 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
Cooler and more active weather returns for the middle of the
week, and persists into next weekend, with several rounds of
mountain snow, and a mix of rain and snow in the valleys.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Tonight through Wednesday night: The Inland NW start to transition
to more active weather, with temperatures near seasonal values.
This afternoon into tonight a weak mid-level shortwave pushes in.
Clouds will increase and lower. However the weak nature of the
system will mean the primary precipitation chances will be found
near the Cascade crest, near the Blue Mountains to central
Panhandle this evening, expanding to north Idaho and near the
WA/ID border overnight. This will mainly bring a mountain snow and
lowland rain threat. The threat retreats to mostly the mountain
zones through the day Tuesday.

Then Tuesday night into Wednesday a stronger and wetter system
moves in. The system takes on a more meridional (south to north)
orientation and so shifts through more gradually during this
period. Precipitation chances increase Tuesday night, especially
overnight with the leading warm front so that PoPs rise to likely
over all but the deeper basin. However later Wednesday into
Wednesday night the incoming cold front/upper trough expands that
likely precipitation potential throughout the region as it brings
another dynamic of forcing to that area.

PWATs rise to around 150-180% of normal or 0.40 to 0.70 inches.
Given the slow nature of the system we could see a prolonged
periods of precipitation. This will largely be a lowland rain and
mountain snow system. The exception will be near the Cascade
valleys such as the Methow which will see some snow potential too
and some may mix in around the sheltered northern valleys. The
potential for wetting rains (>=0.10") is near 100% of much of the
CWA per the ensembles, except in the deeper basin where the
potential is 50-80%. Rises are projected on some of the area
creeks and streams, however through this period we none are
forecast to rise to action stage. We will have to keep an eye on
Paradise creek in the extended, heading into the weekend.

As for snow in the mountain passes, through Wednesday night, here
are some accumulation probabilities. The probability of at least
1" of snow is about 85-100% at all passes, except at Blewett which
has about a 30-50% chance. For at least 3" of snow is 80-90% near
Stevens and Snoqualmie and about 30-50% at Lookout Pass, Blewett,
Washington Pass. For at least 5" of snow is 40-50% near Stevens
and Snoqualmie and about 10-20% at Lookout Pass, Blewett,
Washington Pass. Again this is through Wednesday night (or 5 AM
Thursday). An eye will need to be kept on other places like
Winthrop, and the Methow valley as a whole, and the sheltered
northern valleys. Confidence in precise amounts is lower there,
but there is the potential 1 inch may accumulate and in some of
the Methow Valley, if all converges, 3 inches or more is possible.
That would be more likely in the higher valleys. /Solveig

Thursday and Friday: The Inland Northwest will be under an
exiting trough for Thursday with a brief break between systems fro
Friday. While the region is expected to be under a decent cold
pool aloft, a drying trend has decreased the precip coverage for
the Basin. The period can expected to see a mountain snow event
with the mountain passes getting an additional 3 to 6 inches. The
Basin will be on the lighter side with precip. The colder upper
air mass will lead to potential graupel shower activity during the
afternoon hours. Highs for the days will be in the 40s to low
50s. Lows will be in the upper teens to low 30s.

Late Friday through Monday: Ensembles are bringing a robust
system into the Pacific Northwest for the period. There is very
good agreement with the members on the timing and expected
widespread precip. A strong warm air push will scour out the cold
pool from earlier. With the current trend, it will be a mountain
snow and rain/snow mix for the lowlands. Friday through early
Saturday will have light precip from pre system waves. The
heaviest precip is expected on Sunday into Monday. Passes have a
50+% probability of receiving at least six inches of snow.
Forecast currently has 18 inches for Stevens Pass, 9 inches for
Sherman, and 10 inches Lookout. While lower elevations are
expected to be a mix, snow could be heavy at times and accumulate.
Forecast has a range of 1 to 3 inches for the lower elevations.
Highs will be in the 40s. Lows will be in the upper 20s and 30s.
/JDC

&&

.AVIATION...
06Z TAFS: Some MVFR/IFR stratus is possible toward the Palouse
and into southern Spokane/Kootenai county, including near PUW/COE.
This will come with the next potential for rain, with the best
risk over SE WA/ID toward 07-15Z.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS:
High confidence in VFR conditions for most TAF sites. HREF
guidance suggests MVFR ceilings possible near PUW/COE/LWS
overnight/early Tuesday. Some low clouds may push north toward the
GEG/SFF area too, but confidence is low.

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

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Spokane        35  48  37  49  37  47 /  10  10  70  90  90  70
Coeur d`Alene  33  47  35  47  35  44 /  30  10  80 100  90  90
Pullman        36  48  38  50  36  45 /  20  20  60  90  90  80
Lewiston       41  55  41  57  40  51 /  20  20  40  70  80  70
Colville       28  46  32  45  34  46 /  10  10  80  90 100  80
Sandpoint      33  44  35  44  35  43 /  30  20  90 100 100 100
Kellogg        35  42  36  44  34  40 /  50  30  80 100  90  90
Moses Lake     33  50  38  53  37  52 /   0   0  40  60  80  30
Wenatchee      32  47  35  47  32  47 /   0  10  40  70  70  30
Omak           28  48  33  47  33  48 /  10  10  60  80  90  50

&&

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

$$