Severe Thunderstorms, Heavy Rainfall and Dangerous Heat

Severe thunderstorms are expected today and Friday from the upper Midwest, central Great Lakes into the Ohio and mid-Mississippi Valley's. In addition, heavy rainfall threat increases on Friday across the Ohio Valley. Meanwhile, early summer-like heat wave across portions of southern Texas with new daily records are forecast today and through the weekend; The heat spreads across the Gulf States. Read More >

The National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Spokane, WA (WFO OTX) is proposing a boundary reconfiguration to the Washington East Slopes Cascades (WAZ042) Public Forecast Zone. This change would take the existing public zone boundary and create new zone section definitions within. Specifically, Chelan and western Okanogan counties will be highlighted in these new zones. New zone boundary areas WAZ047, WAZ048, WAZ049 will be created. The use of WAZ042 as a geographic zone code identifier would discontinue after this reconfiguration is implemented.

If you have any questions:
Please call Ron Miller (509-244-0110 x 222)

Why is NWS Spokane, WA Proposing the Forecast Zone reconfiguration?

These changes are intended to enhance hazardous weather messaging for the complex terrain of the east slopes of the north Cascades in Chelan and western Okanogan counties of Washington. NWS Spokane, WA will be able to increase the specificity of the messaging provided for the areas to better communicate weather hazards with local partners.