textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Cold front passage this morning with localized gusty winds.

- Good chance for widespread showers and storms today into Wednesday morning

- Drying and warming trends along with breezy conditions later in the week through the weekend.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 136 AM MDT Tue Jun 9 2026

Satellite and radar imagery shows a shortwave trough/cold front moving through the area currently. This front is associated with very strong 700mb jet, and a negatively tilted 500mb shortwave axis. Any convection associated with the front will likely be mostly virga with little precipitation, but strong gusty winds will be briefly possible with passage of this cold front. HRRR forecast surface gusts have exceeded 45kts at times, suggesting that isolated gusts associated with frontal passage may exceed 50 mph at times. However, most gusts will likely remain in the 35-40 mph range, as HREF probabilities only support a 35-50% chance of gusts exceeding 45 mph with frontal passage. Behind the front, showers steadily increase the potential for rainfall to reach the ground by sunrise. Post-frontal showers are expected most areas during the day Tuesday, with most of East Idaho expected to see wetting rains over 0.10" by midnight today and a greater than 75% chance for 0.25" or more across the Sawtooths, Frank Church, and higher elevations in the southern and eastern highlands. There is a slight chance for thunderstorms, especially in the eastern highlands Tuesday afternoon, with strong gusty winds and small hail. Strong winds are forecast in the northern portions of the Snake Plain during the day Tuesday behind the main front, and a WIND ADVISORY has been continued for the INL east to Idaho Falls and Rexburg, along with a LAKE WIND ADVISORY for American Falls Reservoir.

Shortwave shifts east overnight today, but second weak feature drives across the panhandle into Montana during the day Wednesday. Additional isolated showers and thunderstorms will be possible mainly across the Island Park region. Strong westerly winds are forecast for the Eastern Magic Valley and Lower Snake Plain, and another WIND ADVISORY will likely be needed Wednesday. Expect cold temperatures Wednesday and Thursday mornings. A frost advisory may be needed on Wednesday (to a lesser degree) and Thursday mornings across the Shoshone, Arco Desert, Snake Plain, and Eastern Magic valley growing zones with temperature 33 to 36 degrees likely. Dry westerly flow is expected Thursday into the early weekend, gradually shifting to northwest flow as a ridge of high pressure builds into the coastal states. There is potential for a shortwave to drop through Montana late Saturday into Sunday, but moisture appears to stay too far northeast to impact the region. Breezy winds will be possible. Temperatures rebound back into the upper 70s to mid 80s Friday through the weekend.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1142 AM MDT Mon Jun 8 2026

Today expect strong winds gusts (35 to 50 mph) with increased RHs (min RHs of 25 to 60%) with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms with wetting rains possible for higher elevations. Precipitation chances continue into Wednesday mainly for Fire Weather zone 411 with a weak shortwave dropping over our northeastern areas. Expect gusty winds Wednesday as well with gusts of 25 to 45 mph likely. High temperatures will be in the 50s and 60s today and Wednesday.

Look for drying and warming trends along with breezy conditions Thursday, Friday, and through the weekend. Temperatures will rise back to the 70s and 80s for daytime highs. Min RHs will drop back below 25% across the area for mountain areas and below 15% for the Snake Plain, Eastern Magic Valley and our southwest areas (fire weather zones 410, 425, 427, and portions of 413).

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 9 PM MDT this evening for IDZ052-053.