textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Pockets of dense fog around through the morning

- Rain and snow returns this afternoon and lasts through Monday

- More opportunities for rain and snow well into next week

UPDATE

Issued at 437 AM MST Sat Jan 3 2026

Dense fog has settled into areas along the Utah border south of Malad and also in the Cache Valley. In coordination with our neighbors to the south, we issued a DENSE FOG ADVISORY for those areas through 9 am.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 122 AM MST Sat Jan 3 2026

We are seeing some pockets of dense fog, especially north and west of Idaho Falls. Visibilities are well below 1/4mi at times already, but coverage isn't widespread at the moment. If we see coverage expanding over the next couple of hours, we will likely need an advisory up there. We are also likely seeing isolated pockets of light rain or snow due to "seeder feeder" with any lower stratus out there.

The next event begins in the central mountains this afternoon, spreading east this evening. There will be multiple rounds/bands with this one, meaning not everyone will see precipitation all the time...but there really isn't an overall break until later Monday. Snow levels peak this afternoon and evening at 6500-8000ft, then hover at 5500-7500ft until Monday when they drop down to 4500-5500ft. Any impactful snow accumulations are not likely below 6000-6500ft it looks like right now. Portions of the central mountains, higher elevations of the eastern highlands, and Bear River Range are favored, with 0.50-1.20" of moisture with locally higher amounts. This could potentially produce 6-16" with locally higher totals during this timeframe. We will likely see some periods of tricky travel over Galena, Banner, and Emigration Summits, Ashton Hill, Targhee and Raynolds Passes. Since this is spread out over 48 hours, we will not issue any advisories or warnings this morning. If we can pinpoint a period longer period of impact, that could change.

LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 141 PM MST Fri Jan 2 2026

The cold front sags through the region later Monday. This should bring snow levels down to (most) valley floors overnight Monday night, but most of the precipitation should be over by then. Unsettled conditions continue through the week with another system and cold front expected Wednesday. Temperatures continue to cool through the remainder of next week, bringing daytime highs to near or even potentially slightly below normal. Confidence in where and how precipitation may set up late in the week is low, but temperatures would be cold enough to support snow to valley floors if it can happen. So far, the NBM consensus keeps only weak chances of light precipitation over higher terrain for Thursday and Friday.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 348 AM MST Sat Jan 3 2026

There is some fog and stratus around, BUT the models way oversold the idea of widespread issues with this. It appears that there is just enough wind and high level clouds to keep it from just socking everyone in this morning. We are mostly VFR with a few pockets of MVFR/IFR conditions. We will see rain and snow return west to east this afternoon and evening. We should return to MVFR/IFR weather as more moisture arrives.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Dense Fog Advisory until 9 AM MST this morning for IDZ059.