FIRE WEATHER PLANNING FORECAST FOR EASTERN WASHINGTON AND NORTH IDAHO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA

FNUS56 KOTX 061401 FWFOTX FIRE WEATHER PLANNING FORECAST FOR EASTERN WASHINGTON AND NORTH IDAHO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA 601 AM PST FRI NOV 6 2009 .DISCUSSION... TODAY WILL BE A WINDY AND UNSETTLED DAY FOR MOST OF THE FIRE DISTRICTS IN THE INLAND NORTHWEST. PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST WASHINGTON AND FAR NORTHERN IDAHO COULD EXPERIENCE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF SMALL HAIL THIS AFTERNOON. THE ACTIVE WEATHER WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND. SIGNIFICANT HIGH ELEVATION SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL LIKELY OCCUR OVER THE CASCADES AND OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF IDAHO PANHANDLE AND NORTHEAST WASHINGTON BY SUNDAY MORNING. *************************************************************** FORECASTS FOR 20 FOOT WIND SPEEDS (VALLEYS AND RIDGE TOPS) ARE 10 MINUTE AVERAGES REFLECTING RAWS WIND. *************************************************************** WAZ676-677-680-682-070300- EAST WASHINGTON SOUTH CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 676)- EAST WASHINGTON CENTRAL CASCADE VALLEYS (ZONE 677)- EAST WASHINGTON SOUTH CENTRAL CASCADE MOUNTAINS (ZONE 680)- EAST WASHINGTON CENTRAL CASCADE MOUNTAINS (ZONE 682)- 601 AM PST FRI NOV 6 2009 ...ACCUMULATING SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... .TODAY... SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS...MAINLY ALONG THE CASCADE CREST. SNOW LEVEL 4000 FEET. HIGH ELEVATION SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 2 TO 4 INCHES. LAL.................1. MAX TEMPERATURE.....45-55 VALLEYS AND 33-43 MOUNTAINS. 24 HR TREND......2 DEGREES WARMER VALLEYS AND 6 DEGREES COOLER MOUNTAINS. MIN HUMIDITY........50-65 PERCENT VALLEYS AND 71-90 PERCENT MOUNTAINS. 24 HR TREND......UNCHANGED VALLEYS AND 25 PERCENT WETTER MOUNTAINS. 20-FOOT WIND........ VALLEYS/LWR SLOPES...WEST 12 TO 16 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 33 MPH. RIDGES/UPR SLOPES....WEST 16 TO 19 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH. HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW. MIXING HEIGHT.......3500 FT AGL. TRANSPORT WINDS.....SOUTHWEST 18 TO 22 MPH. CWR (> 0.10 IN).....90 PERCENT ALONG THE CREST. AS LOW AS 10 PERCENT IN THE VALLEYS. .TONIGHT... SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY. RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW...MAINLY ALONG THE CASCADE CREST. SNOW LEVEL FALLING TO 3000 FEET WITH 3 TO 6 INCHES ACCUMULATION ALONG THE CREST. LAL.................1. MIN TEMPERATURE.....32-38 VALLEYS AND 25-33 MOUNTAINS. 24 HR TREND......3 DEGREES COOLER. MAX HUMIDITY........90-100 PERCENT. 24 HR TREND......UNCHANGED. HUMIDITY RECOVERY...EXCELLENT. 20-FOOT WIND........ VALLEYS/LWR SLOPES...SOUTHWEST 5 TO 8 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 22 MPH IN THE EVENING. RIDGES/UPR SLOPES....SOUTHWEST 9 TO 13 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH. HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW. MIXING HEIGHT.......1000 FT AGL. TRANSPORT WINDS.....SOUTHWEST 13 TO 17 MPH. CWR (> 0.10 IN).....90 PERCENT ALONG THE CASCADE CREST. AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT IN THE VALLEYS. .SATURDAY... SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY. RAIN AND SNOW...WITH BEST CHANCES ALONG THE CASCADE CREST. SNOW LEVEL 3000-3500 FEET WITH ADDITIONAL 3 TO 6 INCHES ACCUMULATION. LAL.................1. MAX TEMPERATURE.....40-50 VALLEYS AND 30-40 MOUNTAINS. MIN HUMIDITY........60-75 PERCENT VALLEYS AND 75-90 PERCENT MOUNTAINS. 20-FOOT WIND........ VALLEYS/LWR SLOPES...SOUTHWEST 6 TO 10 MPH. RIDGES/UPR SLOPES....SOUTHWEST 9 TO 13 MPH. HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW. MIXING HEIGHT.......3500 FT AGL. TRANSPORT WINDS.....SOUTHWEST 13 TO 17 MPH. CWR (> 0.10 IN).....90 PERCENT ALONG THE CASCADE CREST. AS LOW AS 10 PERCENT IN THE VALLEYS. .FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7...... .SUNDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS 31 TO 36 VALLEYS...23 TO 31 MOUNTAINS. HIGHS 41 TO 50 VALLEYS... 31 TO 41 MOUNTAINS. SOUTHWEST WIND 8 TO 12 MPH. .MONDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SNOW LIKELY AND CHANCE OF RAIN. LOWS 27 TO 33. HIGHS 39 TO 47 VALLEYS...31 TO 39 MOUNTAINS. SOUTHEAST WIND 3 TO 7 MPH. .TUESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS 28 TO 34. HIGHS 41 TO 50 VALLEYS...32 TO 40 MOUNTAINS. SOUTHWEST WIND 8 TO 12 MPH. .VETERANS DAY THROUGH THURSDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS 27 TO 34. HIGHS 40 TO 50 VALLEYS... 31 TO 40 MOUNTAINS. .8 TO 14 DAY NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND NEAR NORMAL PRECIPITATION. $$ WAZ684-685-687-070300- EAST WASHINGTON OKANOGAN/METHOW VALLEYS (ZONE 684)- EAST WASHINGTON NORTH CASCADES (ZONE 685)- EAST WASHINGTON OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS (ZONE 687)- 601 AM PST FRI NOV 6 2009 ...ACCUMULATING SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... .TODAY... SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS...MAINLY ALONG THE CASCADE CREST. SNOW LEVEL 4000 FEET. HIGH ELEVATION SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 2 TO 4 INCHES. LAL.................1 IN THE MORNING INCREASING TO 2 IN THE AFTERNOON. MAX TEMPERATURE.....48-55 VALLEYS AND 36-46 MOUNTAINS. 24 HR TREND......4 DEGREES WARMER VALLEYS AND 1 DEGREE COOLER MOUNTAINS. MIN HUMIDITY........45-55 PERCENT VALLEYS AND 60-75 PERCENT MOUNTAINS. 24 HR TREND......10 PERCENT DRIER VALLEYS AND 15 PERCENT WETTER MOUNTAINS. 20-FOOT WIND........ VALLEYS/LWR SLOPES...SOUTHWEST 8 TO 12 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH. RIDGES/UPR SLOPES....SOUTHWEST 12 TO 16 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH. HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW. MIXING HEIGHT.......3500 FT AGL. TRANSPORT WINDS.....SOUTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH. CWR (> 0.10 IN).....90 PERCENT ALONG THE CASCADE CREST. AS LOW AS 10 PERCENT IN THE VALLEYS. .TONIGHT... SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY. RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW...MAINLY ALONG THE CASCADE CREST. SNOW LEVEL FALLING TO 3000 FEET WITH 3 TO 6 INCHES ACCUMULATION ALONG THE CREST. LAL.................1. MIN TEMPERATURE.....31-37 VALLEYS AND 23-31 MOUNTAINS. 24 HR TREND......5 DEGREES COOLER. MAX HUMIDITY........90-100 PERCENT. 24 HR TREND......10 PERCENT WETTER VALLEYS AND UNCHANGED MOUNTAINS. HUMIDITY RECOVERY...EXCELLENT. 20-FOOT WIND........ VALLEYS/LWR SLOPES...SOUTH 5 TO 8 MPH. RIDGES/UPR SLOPES....SOUTHWEST 7 TO 11 MPH. HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW. MIXING HEIGHT.......1000 FT AGL. TRANSPORT WINDS.....SOUTH 13 TO 17 MPH. CWR (> 0.10 IN).....90 PERCENT ALONG THE CASCADE CREST. AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT IN THE VALLEYS. .SATURDAY... SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY. RAIN AND SNOW...WITH BEST CHANCES ALONG THE CASCADE CREST. SNOW LEVEL 3000-3500 FEET WITH ADDITIONAL 3 TO 6 INCHES ACCUMULATION. LAL.................1. MAX TEMPERATURE.....41-48 VALLEYS AND 30-40 MOUNTAINS. MIN HUMIDITY........55-70 PERCENT VALLEYS AND 70-80 PERCENT MOUNTAINS. 20-FOOT WIND........ VALLEYS/LWR SLOPES...SOUTH 5 TO 9 MPH. RIDGES/UPR SLOPES....SOUTHWEST 8 TO 12 MPH. HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW. MIXING HEIGHT.......3500 FT AGL. TRANSPORT WINDS.....SOUTHWEST 13 TO 17 MPH. CWR (> 0.10 IN).....90 PERCENT ALONG THE CASCADE CREST. AS LOW AS 10 PERCENT IN THE VALLEYS. .FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7...... .SUNDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS AND RAIN SHOWERS. LOWS 29 TO 37 VALLEYS...22 TO 30 MOUNTAINS. HIGHS 42 TO 48 VALLEYS...32 TO 41 MOUNTAINS. SOUTHWEST WIND 8 TO 12 MPH. .MONDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW. LOWS 28 TO 34 VALLEYS...23 TO 29 MOUNTAINS. HIGHS 41 TO 47 VALLEYS...31 TO 41 MOUNTAINS. SOUTHEAST WIND 3 TO 7 MPH. .TUESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS 25 TO 32. HIGHS 42 TO 48 VALLEYS...32 TO 41 MOUNTAINS. SOUTH WIND 8 TO 12 MPH. .VETERANS DAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS AND RAIN SHOWERS. LOWS 28 TO 34 VALLEYS...23 TO 29 MOUNTAINS. HIGHS 38 TO 47 VALLEYS...31 TO 40 MOUNTAINS. .THURSDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS AND RAIN SHOWERS. LOWS 27 TO 34 VALLEYS...22 TO 29 MOUNTAINS. HIGHS 42 TO 49 VALLEYS...32 TO 41 MOUNTAINS. .8 TO 14 DAY NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND NEAR NORMAL PRECIPITATION. $$ IDZ101-WAZ686-070300- NORTHERN AND CENTRAL IDAHO PANHANDLE (ZONE 101)- EAST WASHINGTON NORTHEAST (ZONE 686)- 601 AM PST FRI NOV 6 2009 ...MOUNTAIN SNOW ACCUMULATIONS LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... .TODAY... SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY. RAIN AND HIGH ELEVATION SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF SMALL HAIL IN THE AFTERNOON. SNOW LEVEL 4500 FEET. LAL.................1 IN THE MORNING INCREASING TO 2 IN THE AFTERNOON. MAX TEMPERATURE.....48-53 VALLEYS AND 38-47 MOUNTAINS. 24 HR TREND......UNCHANGED VALLEYS AND 9 DEGREES COOLER MOUNTAINS. MIN HUMIDITY........50-65 PERCENT VALLEYS AND 65-80 PERCENT MOUNTAINS. 24 HR TREND......5 PERCENT WETTER VALLEYS AND 30 PERCENT WETTER MOUNTAINS. 20-FOOT WIND........ VALLEYS/LWR SLOPES...SOUTHWEST 12 TO 16 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 35 MPH. RIDGES/UPR SLOPES....SOUTHWEST 15 TO 19 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH. HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW. MIXING HEIGHT.......3500 FT AGL. TRANSPORT WINDS.....SOUTHWEST 23 TO 27 MPH. CWR (> 0.10 IN).....50 PERCENT. .TONIGHT... SKY/WEATHER.........CLOUDY. RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW LIKELY. SNOW LEVEL 3000-4000 FEET WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES. LAL.................1. MIN TEMPERATURE.....34-39 VALLEYS AND 29-36 MOUNTAINS. 24 HR TREND......7 DEGREES COOLER. MAX HUMIDITY........90-100 PERCENT. 24 HR TREND......10 PERCENT WETTER VALLEYS AND UNCHANGED MOUNTAINS. HUMIDITY RECOVERY...EXCELLENT. 20-FOOT WIND........ VALLEYS/LWR SLOPES...SOUTHWEST 7 TO 11 MPH. RIDGES/UPR SLOPES....SOUTHWEST 9 TO 13 MPH. HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW. MIXING HEIGHT.......1000 FT AGL. TRANSPORT WINDS.....SOUTHWEST 13 TO 17 MPH. CWR (> 0.10 IN).....40 PERCENT. .SATURDAY... SKY/WEATHER.........CLOUDY. RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW. SNOW LEVEL 3000-3500 FEET WITH ACCUMULATIONS WITH HIGH ELEVATION ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 3 TO 6 INCHES. LAL.................1. MAX TEMPERATURE.....42-47 VALLEYS AND 34-42 MOUNTAINS. MIN HUMIDITY........65-80 PERCENT VALLEYS AND 80-90 PERCENT MOUNTAINS. 20-FOOT WIND........ VALLEYS/LWR SLOPES...SOUTHWEST 8 TO 12 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 35 MPH. RIDGES/UPR SLOPES....SOUTHWEST 10 TO 14 MPH. HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW. MIXING HEIGHT.......3500 FT AGL. TRANSPORT WINDS.....SOUTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH. CWR (> 0.10 IN).....60 PERCENT. .FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7...... .SUNDAY...SNOW SHOWERS AND CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS. LOWS 28 TO 34. HIGHS 41 TO 46 VALLEYS...31 TO 40 MOUNTAINS. SOUTHWEST WIND 8 TO 12 MPH. .MONDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW. LOWS 26 TO 32. HIGHS 39 TO 47. SOUTHEAST WIND 3 TO 7 MPH. .TUESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS 26 TO 32. HIGHS 42 TO 47 VALLEYS...33 TO 42 MOUNTAINS. SOUTH WIND 8 TO 12 MPH. .VETERANS DAY THROUGH THURSDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS AND RAIN SHOWERS. LOWS 25 TO 32. HIGHS 39 TO 45 VALLEYS...30 TO 39 MOUNTAINS. .8 TO 14 DAY NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND NEAR NORMAL PRECIPITATION. $$ WAZ673-070300- EAST WASHINGTON NORTHERN COLUMBIA BASIN (ZONE 673)- 601 AM PST FRI NOV 6 2009 ...WIND GUSTS AS HIGH AS 40 MPH TODAY... .TODAY... SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY SUNNY. SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS THROUGH THE DAY. LAL.................1. MAX TEMPERATURE.....52-58. 24 HR TREND......5 DEGREES WARMER. MIN HUMIDITY........40-50 PERCENT. 24 HR TREND......10 PERCENT DRIER. 20-FOOT WIND........SOUTHWEST 13 TO 17 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH. HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW. MIXING HEIGHT.......3500 FT AGL. TRANSPORT WINDS.....SOUTHWEST 23 TO 27 MPH. CWR (> 0.10 IN).....10 PERCENT. .TONIGHT... SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS IN THE EVENING...THEN CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS OVERNIGHT. LAL.................1. MIN TEMPERATURE.....35-40. 24 HR TREND......5 DEGREES COOLER. MAX HUMIDITY........81-100 PERCENT. 24 HR TREND......UNCHANGED. HUMIDITY RECOVERY...EXCELLENT. 20-FOOT WIND........SOUTHWEST 7 TO 11 MPH. HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW. MIXING HEIGHT.......1000 FT AGL. TRANSPORT WINDS.....SOUTHWEST 13 TO 17 MPH. CWR (> 0.10 IN).....10 PERCENT. .SATURDAY... SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY. RAIN LIKELY IN THE MORNING...DECREASING TO A CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. LAL.................1. MAX TEMPERATURE.....46-54. MIN HUMIDITY........55-65 PERCENT. 20-FOOT WIND........SOUTHWEST 9 TO 13 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 35 MPH. HAINES INDEX........3 VERY LOW. MIXING HEIGHT.......3500 FT AGL. TRANSPORT WINDS.....SOUTHWEST 20 TO 25 MPH. CWR (> 0.10 IN).....20 PERCENT. .FORECAST DAYS 3 THROUGH 7...... .SUNDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS. LOWS 33 TO 38. HIGHS 45 TO 51. SOUTHWEST WIND 8 TO 12 MPH. .MONDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. CHANCE OF RAIN. LOWS 31 TO 36. HIGHS 46 TO 53. SOUTHEAST WIND 3 TO 7 MPH. .TUESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS 31 TO 36. HIGHS 45 TO 51. SOUTHWEST WIND 3 TO 7 MPH. .VETERANS DAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS 31 TO 36. HIGHS 43 TO 48. .THURSDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS 32 TO 37. HIGHS 44 TO 51. .8 TO 14 DAY NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND NEAR NORMAL PRECIPITATION. $$