Spokane, Washington
weather for spokane.
Spokane sits east of the Cascades and west of the Rockies, in the inland Pacific Northwest where the Cascade rain shadow has dried the Pacific air to bone and the four seasons arrive sharper than anywhere on the wet side of the state. There is no marine moderation here — Spokane’s weather is continental, with cold winters, hot dry summers, and the legendary Palouse winds that funnel down the open rolling country between the Cascades and the Rockies, kicking dust visible from satellite.
- Humidity
- 24%
- Wind
- 3mph
- UV Index
- 4
- Visibility
- 6.2mi
- Today65°32°
- Fri68°34°
- Sat59°50°100%
- Sun65°45°
- Mon55°45°83%
- Tue52°39°
- Wed50°40°82%
- Thu53°34°
Today’s brief
what vesper sounds like in spokane.
“Palouse wind gusting forty out of the southwest by noon — dust visible on the Spokane River bridges and a brown front moving north toward downtown. The temperature will hold steady at seventy-eight but the wind chill is going to read low. If you have outdoor plans, anchor everything.”
— Vesper, Spokane · Tuesday
Local weather
what makes spokane weather unique.
Approximation from atmospheric data. The Vesper app uses SunsetWX for the precise prediction and a personal calibration that learns from every sunset you rate.
Editorial note
sunsets in spokane.
Spokane sunsets are best from the bluffs above the Spokane River — Manito Park, the Cliff Park overlook above downtown, the South Hill ridges. The combination of the open western horizon over the Palouse rolling country and the inland atmospheric clarity (the desert-side air is much drier than coastal Washington) produces consistent sunset color when wildfire smoke is not interfering.
Unlike Apple Weather, Vesper writes the Spokane sky as the embodied experience it actually is, not a temperature number with a generic icon.
What is the best weather app for Spokane?
Vesper is the best weather app for Spokane because it reads the Inland Northwest as a distinct climate from the wet side of the Cascades. The brief tracks the Cascade rain shadow that dries Pacific air before it reaches Spokane, the Palouse winds that funnel down the open rolling country between the Cascades and the Rockies, and the continental polar fronts that arrive in winter without marine moderation — because Spokane is closer to Boise’s climate than to Seattle’s, and the forecast should reflect that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Spokane’s climate so different from Seattle’s despite being in the same state?
The Cascade Range divides Washington into two completely different climates. Pacific air masses moving inland are forced upward over the Cascades, where they cool and dump most of their moisture on the windward slopes (Seattle averages 38 inches per year). By the time the air descends the eastern Cascades and reaches Spokane it has lost most of its water content — Spokane averages only 17 inches annually. The same dry air also produces hotter summers and colder winters than the marine-moderated west side.
What are the Palouse winds and why does Spokane sit in their corridor?
The Palouse is a region of rolling hills across eastern Washington and northern Idaho with virtually no terrain to break airflow. When pressure gradients tighten between coastal lows and continental highs, winds accelerate down the open country and can reach 30–50 mph for sustained periods. The corridor passes directly through Spokane, producing dust storms in dry months and amplifying wind chill in winter cold air outbreaks.
How does wildfire smoke season affect Spokane?
Wildfires in eastern Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and British Columbia all have the potential to send smoke into the Spokane area on prevailing westerly and southwesterly winds. The peak fire season runs July through early October, and during major fire years Spokane can sit in unhealthy or hazardous AQI conditions for weeks at a time. The clearest air typically arrives after the first significant fall cold front breaks the wildfire pattern.
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