textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- One Final Mild Day Today: High pressure begins breaking down today ahead of an incoming pattern shift, offering one last afternoon with highs in the 50s and 60s before cooler fall weather takes hold.

- Overnight & Saturday Rain/Mountain Snow: A quick-moving, splitting system arrives tonight, focusing 0.20" to 0.40" of liquid in the Wood River Valley and surrounding mountains, up to 0.30" from Pomerelle to the Bear River Range, and under 0.20" across rain-shadowed Snake Plain and Magic Valley zones. Snow levels near 7,000 feet will confine impactful accumulations above pass level (13", locally up to 5" in upslope areas of the Sawtooths, Boulders, and Pioneers) as Saturday highs fall into the 30s and 40s.

- Brief Sunday Lull: Eastern Idaho sits between systems on Sunday, keeping conditions dry with temperatures rebounding around 5 degrees.

- Colder & Unsettled Next Week: Another splitting wave impacts central and south-central Idaho on Monday before a large, slow-moving trough settles over the western U.S. late next week, dropping valley highs into the upper 30s and lower 40s and transitioning precipitation to predominantly snow regionwide beyond mid-week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 239 AM MST Fri Nov 13 2026

Early morning satellite imagery shows mid-to-high level clouds streaming over eastern Idaho as the upper-level ridge responsible for our recent stretch of pleasant, above-normal weather begins to break down. We will experience one final seasonably mild day today with highs reaching the 50s and 60s. Beyond today, however, temperatures in the 60s will depart for the foreseeable future as a much cooler and wetter regime settles across the region.

The first round of rain and snow sweeps through quickly tonight into Saturday alongside split upper-level flow across Idaho. This split trajectory, paired with southerly low-level flow, will generate sharp terrain-driven precipitation contrasts. Downsloping off the southern highlands will initially limit precipitation across portions of the Snake River Plain, Magic Valley, and adjacent bench areas, leaving several valley locations rain-shadowed with totals ranging from a couple of hundredths up to 0.20 inches. Conversely, southerly flow will bank moisture against the northern rim of the Plain, creating favorable upslope enhancement into the Wood River Valley and surrounding ranges. Expect 0.20 to 0.40 inches of liquid equivalent across the Wood River Valley and adjacent mountains, and up to 0.30 inches from around Pomerelle eastward through the Bear River Range, though some spread remains regarding the exact areal coverage of those higher amounts. Snowfall will remain generally above 7,000 feet, keeping impactful accumulations confined above pass level at 1 to 3 inches, with localized upslope totals up to 5 inches across parts of the Sawtooths, Boulders, and Pioneers. Daytime highs on Saturday will drop back into the 30s and 40s areawide.

Eastern Idaho will reside between departing and incoming upper- level troughs on Sunday. Dry conditions will return under partly cloudy skies, allowing afternoon temperatures to rebound by around 5 degrees compared to Saturday's readings. The next Pacific storm shifts slowly inland on Monday. Even as this low splits while moving eastward, it will deliver another round of rain and mountain snow focused primarily across the Central Mountains back into south-central and southwest Idaho. Looking further ahead, global guidance indicates a large, slow-moving upper trough carving out across the western United States during the middle to latter half of next week. Temperatures will trend steadily downward throughout the week ahead, with valley highs likely restricted to the upper 30s and lower 40s by the end of the forecast period cold enough for snow to become the dominant precipitation type regionwide beyond mid-week.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 239 AM MST Fri Nov 13 2026

VFR in place this morning although some very localized fog remains possible in spots but hasn't transpired as of yet nor is it forecast. But it's something to continue to monitor. Otherwise, VFR is expected until later this evening as clouds and eventually precip will be on the increase as the day progresses. Additionally, winds pick up this afternoon with gusts to 25kts at many sites. Showers will arrive after 00Z with at least MVFR conditions increasing likely at TAF sites late Friday night into Saturday AM.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.