Wildfire in Washington, September 1 to 30, 2024

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
1020 PM PDT Sat Aug 31 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
The Labor Day weekend will feature much warmer than average
temperatures with most of the Inland Northwest exceeding 90
degrees Sunday and Monday. The arrival of a cold front Monday
night into Tuesday will bring breezy conditions and the chance for
showers and thunderstorms. Hot temperatures look to return over
the Inland Northwest for the latter half of next week as the ridge
of high pressure rebounds.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Today through Monday:

-Hot and dry conditions continue through tomorrow with Moderate to
 Major HeatRisk. Elevated wildfire risk due to drying fuels today
 and tomorrow.

-Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the Inland Northwest
 Monday. Elevated wildfire risk due to lightning.

The ridge axis centered over Washington will shift eastward into
Northwest Montana tomorrow. Sunday will be the warmest day of the
Labor day weekend in the Inland Northwest with widespread highs in
the 90s and perhaps 100 in the L-C valley. A compact shortwave
will bring a threat of showers and thunderstorms to much of the
region Monday. Southeast Washington and the Idaho Panhandle has a
20-40% chance of a wetting rain (0.10” or more) Monday morning
through Tuesday morning. Elsewhere has a 5-20% chance of wetting
rains. As of now, models have stronger convection in the Columbia
Gorge, Lower Columbia Basin, and the Oregon Blue Mtns Monday
afternoon. Models show the activity decaying as it moves north
into the upper Columbia Basin, Palouse, L-C valley but still pose
a threat of 35 mph outflow winds. /Butler

Tuesday through Saturday:
The low pressure disturbance will start pushing east of the Inland
Northwest on Tuesday, but chances for showers will linger across
SE Washington and northern Idaho. Tuesday also looks like the
coolest day of the upcoming week, though daytime temps will still
be near to slightly warmer than normal. Strong high pressure
rebuilds back into the region for Wednesday and the likely the
following several days. Max temperatures are forecast to be about
10-15 degrees above normal, and dry conditions are anticipated.
/KD

&&

.AVIATION...
06Z TAFS: VFR conditions and light winds will prevail. KPUW is
the exception tonight. Models show southeast winds funneling
smoke from Idaho Panhandle fires into KPUW after about 08-12z
until around 17 to 20z.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Moderate
confidence in MVFR haze at KPUW tomorrow morning.

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

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        57  95  60  89  57  82 /   0   0   0  10  30  10
Coeur d'Alene  57  93  58  88  56  79 /   0   0   0  10  40  20
Pullman        51  93  57  85  49  77 /   0   0   0  20  50  30
Lewiston       63 100  64  93  63  86 /   0   0   0  20  50  30
Colville       51  95  53  92  50  84 /   0   0   0   0  30  10
Sandpoint      49  88  55  88  51  77 /   0   0   0  10  30  20
Kellogg        60  91  63  89  57  77 /   0   0   0  10  50  30
Moses Lake     56  97  62  91  57  86 /   0   0   0  10  10   0
Wenatchee      68  97  72  91  65  87 /   0   0   0  10  20   0
Omak           62  98  64  95  60  89 /   0   0   0  10  20   0

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...Heat Advisory until 9 PM PDT Monday for Central Panhandle
     Mountains-Coeur d'Alene Area-Northern Panhandle.

     Heat Advisory until 9 PM PDT Sunday for Idaho Palouse-Lewiston
     Area.

WA...Heat Advisory until 9 PM PDT Monday for Northeast Mountains-
     Spokane Area.

     Heat Advisory until 9 PM PDT Sunday for Central Chelan County-
     Lower Garfield and Asotin Counties-Moses Lake Area-Okanogan
     Highlands-Okanogan Valley-Upper Columbia Basin-Washington
     Palouse-Waterville Plateau-Wenatchee Area-Western Chelan
     County-Western Okanogan County.

&&