Rathdrum, Idaho 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

051
FXUS66 KOTX 261144
AFDOTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
444 AM PDT Thu Mar 26 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...
- Snow fell over Stevens Pass overnight. Be prepared for wintry
  travel Thursday morning.

- Warm, dry conditions expected through the weekend.

- Hydrology: The Stehekin River at Stehekin is forecast to
  remain above its Action Stage (19.5 ft) for the next week.
  Other area rivers will stay elevated and begin to recede
  slowly this weekend.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
High pressure returns Thursday into the Saturday, with a drier
and warmer weather. Unsettled weather returns to the region
next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Today through Sunday: The trough and associated moisture has
shifted east over Montana. Drier air will continue to move into
the region as a ridge begins to build from the South. Winds
will still be breezy to start Thursday morning but decrease
through day as the region stabilizes behind the cold front. The
pattern is expected to remain through the weekend. While
temperatures are expected to be on a warming trend, the low
amplification of ridge will help cap the highs. Current forecast
has a range of 50s to low 60s. These are around 5 degrees above
the normal for this time of year. Dry and clear skies will
allow for optimal overnight radiational cooling. The lows will
be in the 30s with southern locations, like Lewiston and
Mattawa, reaching low 40s.


Monday through Wednesday: The ridge weakens and shifts East as
a Gulf of Alaska trough begins to deepens along the Pacific
Northwest. Model guidance differs on the exact timing and
strength of the trough. It is either Monday morning or
afternoon. There is not a decent cold air push associated with
the trough. Temperatures are expected to remain on the warm side
of normal for the period. The trough will bring the next round
of precip. Any precip will generally be mountain snow and
lowland rain. Lowlands could see snow depending on the timing of
precip. It is too early for any confidence on amounts. It will
be a very spring like pattern over the region. It will continue
to be unsettled pattern through the week as a Gulf of Alaska Low
pushes several shortwaves across the Pacific Northwest. /JDC

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAFS: VFR conditions expected as a very dry air mass resides
over the region. Outside fair cumulus clouds, skies will be
clear until high cirrus moves in Thursday night. Afternoon
mixing will support breezy winds Thursday with gusts 10 to 20
knots.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS:
There is high confidence for VFR conditions at TAF sites.

-----------------------

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        47  28  56  36  57  35 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Coeur d`Alene  46  27  56  34  57  35 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Pullman        44  30  56  37  56  37 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Lewiston       51  30  60  39  61  41 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Colville       50  25  56  31  59  32 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Sandpoint      46  27  52  31  54  34 /  10   0   0   0   0   0
Kellogg        42  28  57  37  56  36 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Moses Lake     53  29  60  34  63  36 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Wenatchee      50  32  55  36  60  37 /   0   0   0   0   0   0
Omak           52  31  56  34  59  36 /   0   0   0   0   0   0

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...Winter Weather Advisory until 5 AM PDT early this morning for
     Western Chelan County-Western Okanogan County.
ID...None.

&&

$$