textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Temperatures will steadily climb through the weekend, with many afternoon highs reaching the 40s and lower 50s by Sunday.

- Light snow is expected in portions of the Central Mountains and Island Park regions through Friday night, though accumulations will remain under 2 inches.

- After a brief relative cooldown Monday and Tuesday, the warming trend returns through the end of the week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 113 PM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

Satellite imagery shows developing ridge over western U.S. with high clouds streaming through the PacNW states ahead of weak shortwave trough. In East Idaho, low stratus and patchy fog is in place late this morning over much of the Snake River Plain and adjacent valley regions, stretching south into the Cache Valley. Rapid clearing of the stratus shield is underway except for the north end of the Snake River Plain and the Marsh, Cache and adjacent valleys in the southern highlands. Models lift weak jet across the top of the ridge tonight through Friday, and it may be enough to produce very light snows across portions of the central mountains and northeast highlands. Greatest accumulations are possible across the Island Park region, where up to 2" of accumulation is possible through Friday. The chance of exceeding 2" is less than 30%, and the chance of seeing anything more than a quick dusting is around or less than 15% anywhere else. The mid and high cloud is expected to inhibit significant redevelopment of the stratus and fog overnight tonight. That said, patchy fog does remain possible overnight throughout lower elevation areas, and NBM means maintain 4-6 mile visibility restrictions overnight, so maintained mention for forecast grids. Upper ridge axis shifts back across East Idaho Friday night.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 113 PM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

Upper ridge axis transitions into East Idaho for the weekend, leading to warming trend across the region. This may come with the caveat of renewed potential for low elevation stratus and fog, which may then dampen temperatures slightly. The NBM means still carry highs in the mid 40s to low 50s by Sunday for most lower elevation areas. Another weak feature tries to top the ridge late Sunday through Monday, with another chance for light snow across higher elevation areas. Once again, the chance for more than an inch or two of accumulation at higher elevations is minimal. The upper ridge axis strengthens once again behind this feature, with continued warming through midweek. The area covered by a greater than 50% probability of temperatures exceeding 50 degrees grows significantly by Thursday, covering a broad swath south of a line from Shoshone to Blackfoot.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1030 AM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

With high pressure overhead, we are back to dealing with low stratus/fog in the mornings. We're finally seeing some improvement at PIH, though it remains on our door step and just a slight wind shift would bring it right back into the terminal. Have "split the difference" at bit with the PIH TAF for the time being going with 4SM BR SCT005 BKN025 for the next few hours. At IDA, IFR CIGs continue and while improvement is expected there, too, today, it may not be VFR conditions until closer to 00Z. Things are much better around BYI and SUN while DIJ goes back and forth from SCT002 to BKN/OVC002. So, when any low stratus/fog moves back into the terminal, expect quick drops to IFR/LIFR CIGs and VIS. More of the same is in the forecast for tonight, though some of the CAMs want to keep it a bit more confined to the upper Snake River Plain with main impacts expected at IDA and DIJ.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.