High Wind in Idaho, December 17, 2025

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
416 AM PST Wed Dec 17 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- High confidence for high winds through Wednesday with a 40 percent
to 80 percent chance of wind gusts greater than 60 mph across much
of the region early Wednesday morning. Damage to trees and power
lines is expected with widespread power outages possible.

- Rain and high mountain snow through early Wednesday to bring
additional river rises and mud and rock slide concerns to the
Cascades and Idaho Panhandle.

- Heavy mountain snow to impact the Cascades through the end of the
week. There is a 90% chance of 2 feet or more of snow at Stevens
Pass through Friday afternoon.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
An extremely active pattern will continue to impact the Inland
Northwest through Thursday. Rain and high mountain snow through
early Wednesday will bring additional river rises with mud and rock
slide concerns in steep terrain of the Cascades and Idaho Panhandle.
As a powerful cold front pushes through, strong, potentially
damaging winds will develop early Wednesday, and rain will
transition to heavy snow at pass levels. Temperatures cool toward
the end of the week but still remain above normal. Additional
weather systems are forecast to bring more snow to the mountains and
a wintry mix to the valleys through the end of the week and into the
weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

...VERY ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN CONTINUES THROUGH THURSDAY WITH HIGH
WINDS EARLY WEDNESDAY AND HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOW FOR THE CASCADES
WEDNESDAY THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK...

Tuesday night through Wednesday: This time period will be
characterized by expanding precipitation chances, lowering snow
levels, and strong, damaging winds as a powerful cold front races
across the region. High Wind Warnings are in effect across most of
the Inland Northwest through 4PM Wednesday.

*High Winds: Winds are already breezy but will see a significant
increase in speeds into early Wednesday morning as the cold front
moves through. There is high confidence in widespread strong and
damaging winds between 2AM and 9AM Wednesday. The latest run of the
National Blend of Models is showing a 50 to 80 percent chance of
gusts over 60 MPH across much of the region. Chances increase to
between 80 and 95 percent for the southeastern corner of the region
including Pullman, Lewiston, and the Blue Mountains. For the
northern third of Washington, chances are around 20 percent for
gusts greater than 60 mph. Gusts to 70+ mph are not out of the
question, especially if convection develops along the front and aids
in mixing down winds from aloft. With all of the recent rain leaving
soils saturated, there will be an especially high risk of tree
damage and resulting power outages with strong gusts. Winds will
slowly decline through the day on Wednesday.

*Precipitation Amounts: Precip chances become widespread across the
region into Wednesday. Forecast precip totals from late Tuesday
night to Wednesday night range from 1 to 3 inches along the Cascade
Crest, 0.5 to 1 inch along the mid slopes, and 0.10 to 0.40 inches
for valley floors. The deeper Columbia Basin (Ephrata, Moses Lake,
Coulee City) will see the lightest amounts with less 0.10 inches
forecast. The ID Panhandle will generally range from 0.40 inches to
1 inch with higher amounts for the mountains.

*Snow: Snow levels will rapidly fall to between 1000 and 2000 feet
by Wednesday morning following the passage of a cold front. This
rapid drop in snow levels will coincide with precip chances ending
due to dry air moving in behind the front, so lowland snow
accumulations are not anticipated. For the Cascades, snow will ramp
up into Wednesday with 10-20 inches forecast by Wednesday night near
the Cascade crest. Since heavy snow will coincide with strong winds,
a Blizzard Warning has been issued - a rare occurrence for our
region. Strong winds may result in blowing snow, significantly
reducing visibilities. Other mountain passes including Sherman and
Lookout are forecast to receive 1 to 3 inches of snow.

Thursday through Tuesday: Another surge of precipitation moves in
early Thursday into Friday. Snow levels start off around 1500-2500
feet but a return of warmer air from the southwest is expected with
the current NBM raising snow levels to 3000-6000 feet by Thursday
evening. There is some uncertainty as to how quickly the warm air
will make it up to the northern valleys. Some models are showing
those valleys staying cold enough to see snow all day on Thursday,
while others are showing a transition to rain by late Thursday
morning. More moderate to heavy snow is anticipated for the Cascades
with potential for multiple feet of accumulation. Other passes
including Sherman and Lookout could also see moderate snow. A zonal
flow pattern sets up Saturday through Tuesday with continuing
precipitation chances and cooler temperatures typical of mid to
late December. /Fewkes

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAFs:

.STRONG COLD FRONT TO BRING CONVECTION AND HIGH WINDS ACROSS THE
INLAND NORTHWEST TODAY.

Major to extreme impacts from winds are expected today with a
vigorous cold front passage this morning. The front will be
preceded by rain and strong dynamics along the front will bring
a threat of convection that will lead to the potential for heavy
rain and isolated thunderstorms. The highest threat for
convective enhancement with precipitation will be east of a line
from KMWH to KOMK. Cold front passage will bring the potential
for wind gusts of 50+ kts out of west to southwest and
convective cells will only enhance this potential. 60-70 kt wind
gusts will not be out of the question, especially in areas of
convective showers and thunderstorms.

.FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Moderate to
high confidence for a convective line with cold front late
early this morning through 16Z. There is a 20% chance for
thunderstorms to impact KLWS/KPUW/KGEG/KSFF/KCOE between through
15Z Wednesday. /SVH

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

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        49  33  46  33  40  29 /  70  10 100  80  30  30
Coeur d'Alene  49  32  45  34  40  30 /  90  20 100  90  50  50
Pullman        48  32  46  36  42  30 /  90  10 100 100  80  50
Lewiston       53  37  49  41  48  34 /  90  10 100 100  80  40
Colville       43  28  34  27  36  25 /  70  20 100  70  20  20
Sandpoint      42  28  36  31  35  28 / 100  40 100  90  50  60
Kellogg        46  32  43  34  39  31 / 100  40 100 100  70  80
Moses Lake     49  36  45  33  43  27 /  20  10 100  50  20  10
Wenatchee      45  34  42  30  40  27 /  50  30 100  70  20  30
Omak           43  31  34  23  34  22 /  40  10 100  70  10  20

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...High Wind Warning until 4 PM PST this afternoon for Central
     Chelan County-Lower Garfield and Asotin Counties-Moses
     Lake Area-Northeast Blue Mountains-Northeast Mountains-
     Okanogan Highlands-Spokane Area-Upper Columbia Basin-
     Washington Palouse-Waterville Plateau-Wenatchee Area-
     Western Chelan County.
     Wind Advisory from 6 AM this morning to 4 PM PST this
     afternoon for Okanogan Valley-Western Okanogan County.
     Blizzard Warning until noon PST today for Western Chelan
     County.
ID...Flood Watch until 8 AM PST this morning for Central Panhandle
     Mountains-Coeur d'Alene Area-Idaho Palouse-Northern
     Panhandle.
     High Wind Warning until 4 PM PST this afternoon for Central
     Panhandle Mountains-Coeur d'Alene Area-Idaho Palouse-
     Lewis and Southern Nez Perce Counties-Lewiston Area-
     Northern Panhandle.

&&

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Spokane WA
216 AM PST Wed Dec 17 2025

WAZ034-041-043-044-047>049-171200-
Moses Lake Area-Wenatchee Area-Okanogan Valley-Waterville Plateau-
Central Chelan County-Western Chelan County-
Western Okanogan County-
216 AM PST Wed Dec 17 2025

A vigorous cold front will begin crossing the Cascades between 2AM
and 3AM. With the frontal passage, look for sharp increase in
west winds and potential for wind gusts between 50 and 60 mph
with isolated gusts to 70 mph. For Chelan and Okanogan County, the
highest confidence for these stronger winds will over the
ridgelines. As the front moves into the western Columbia Basin,
these stronger winds will begin surfacing on the Waterville
Plateau, Wenatchee Area, and western Columbia Basin around
Vantage, Moses Lake and Ephrata. Motorists with high profile
vehicles should be prepared for rapid increases in winds and wind
gusts and potential for dangerous cross winds.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Spokane WA
316 AM PST Wed Dec 17 2025

WAZ031>033-035-036-171230-
Northeast Blue Mountains-Lower Garfield and Asotin Counties-
Washington Palouse-Upper Columbia Basin-Spokane Area-
316 AM PST Wed Dec 17 2025

A band of showers tracking west to east across the central
Columbia Basin will move into Spokane, Whitman, Garfield, and
Asotin Counties between 330 and 500 AM. The band is currently
located roughly from Creston to Ritzville to Lind is moving east
around 40 mph. The band of showers will be capable of mixing down
wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph as it moves through. Motorists on
US 395, US 95, and I-90 should be prepared for rapid increases in
wind gusts and potential for tree damage.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Spokane WA
412 AM PST Wed Dec 17 2025

IDZ003-004-026-027-WAZ031>033-171415-
Idaho Palouse-Central Panhandle Mountains-Lewiston Area-
Lewis and Southern Nez Perce Counties-Northeast Blue Mountains-
Lower Garfield and Asotin Counties-Washington Palouse-
412 AM PST Wed Dec 17 2025

Between 4AM and 6AM, there is increasing confidence for
strengthening wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph across areas of
southeastern Washington and the lower Idaho Panhandle. This
includes the foothills of the Blue Mountains, Washington and Idaho
Palouse, L-C Valley, Camas Prairie, and into southern Shoshone
County.