Winter Storm Warning 5, NWS Spokane, WA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
400 PM PDT Sun Apr 12 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Showers and afternoon thunderstorms Sunday.

- Light to moderate rains Sunday evening into Monday morning for
  North Idaho and southeastern Washington.

- A robust cold front to deliver valley rain, mountain snow,
  and gusty winds Tuesday into Wednesday.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Chances for showers and afternoon thunderstorms continue through
Sunday. Areas of moderate rain will develop Sunday night and
continue into Monday for the Idaho Panhandle and southeastern
WA. A cold front passage Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday will
bring additional light rain in the lowlands, mountain snow, and
breezy to windy conditions.

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.DISCUSSION...
Today through Monday: The northern reaches of a strong mid-level
wave are beginning to arrive in Southeast Washington and the
Central Panhandle Mountains this afternoon. This wave is
creating enough forcing to trigger convective pop-up showers
across the eastern third of Washington and North Idaho with
potential for thunderstorms lasting into the evening. We have
already seen a few strikes with storms in the far southeastern
corner of the region (Nez Perce and Lewis Counties).

More steady rain will move in tonight across Southeast
Washington, the Central and Northern Idaho Panhandle, and along
the Washington/Idaho border. The highest totals are favored on
the Palouse into the LC Valley and Camas Prairie. The rain will
lead to rises on small streams, but no flooding is currently
expected. Snow levels will remain high, staying around
6000-7000 feet today and lowering to 5000-6000 feet by Monday
morning. This will keep snow above the mountain passes and
confined to the higher peaks for now. By Monday afternoon, what
is left of the deformation band weakens and shifts east with
mainly mountain showers expected.

Tuesday through Thursday: A deep low pressure system will send
a robust cold front through the Inland NW. Strong westerly flow
will lead to a rain shadow across Central WA with only light
precip amounts (if any), while the Cascades and ID Panhandle
will see a burst of precipitation with a cold front passage.
Snow levels with this system start out between 3000-4500 feet
(lowest snow levels in the Cascades) on Tuesday, dropping to
1000-3000 feet behind the front on Wednesday. This system will
bring late season snow to the mountains.

Stevens Pass has a 70% chance of seeing more than 8 inches of
snow and a 40% chance of more than 12 inches of snow from 5 PM
Monday to 5 PM Wednesday.

Lookout Pass has an 80% chance of more than 4 inches and a 40%
chance of more than 8 inches from 5 PM Tuesday to 5 PM
Thursday.

In addition to mountain snow, this system will also bring gusty
winds, with wind gusts of 30-45 MPH across the region Tuesday
and Wednesday. Colder air behind the front will drop
temperatures, with widespread freezing temperatures expected
Wednesday night and Thursday night. Lows will be in the 20s to
low 30s.

Friday and Saturday: Dry conditions and clear skies are forecast
as the low exits the region and a weak shortwave ridge moves
in. Temperatures will warm closer to seasonal normals. /Fewkes

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAFS: Widely scattered showers and thunderstorms will
continue into the evening across the eastern third of WA and
North ID. KPUW and KLWS have the highest chance of being
impacted by these storms, but KGEG- KSFF- KCOE may be impacted
as well (20 percent chance). Later tonight, KLWS- KPUW should
expect steady rains and lowering CIGS with areas of MVFR
conditions. Rains will spread into KGEG-KSFF-KCOE late Monday
morning.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS:
There is a 15-30 percent chance of thunderstorms mainly south of
Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Sunday evening including KPUW/KLWS. As
steady rains arrive, ceilings will lower to MVFR.

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

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        43  61  37  51  37  48 /  40  50  10  30  90  70
Coeur d'Alene  44  56  38  50  38  47 /  50  70  20  40 100  80
Pullman        42  54  35  51  38  45 /  90  70  10  20  90  90
Lewiston       47  59  39  59  44  51 /  90  70   0   0  90  90
Colville       39  66  36  53  33  51 /  30  60  10  60  90  60
Sandpoint      43  54  36  44  34  44 /  30  90  40  70 100  90
Kellogg        44  50  37  47  37  43 /  70  90  30  60 100  90
Moses Lake     44  66  38  58  37  54 /  20  10   0  10  30  30
Wenatchee      47  61  42  56  37  52 /  10   0   0  20  40  20
Omak           43  63  38  50  31  52 /  10   0   0  30  50  30

&&

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

&&