textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Moderate to heavy mountain snow Today with valley rain. Breezy to windy conditions Friday. Wind Advisory in Snake River Plain.

- Weather pattern to remain active into the week of Christmas.

- Continued well above normal temperatures through Christmas.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 152 AM MST Fri Dec 19 2025

A second round of moisture with this system will intensify this morning with snow levels in the 6 to 7 thousand foot range then dropping overnight. Snow will gradually exit the central mountains after sunset and the drying will push south overnight with snow lingering in the southern mountains through tonight. Additional snow accumulations in the central mountains of 1 to 3 inches below 6500 feet with 4 to 8 inches above 7 thousand feet. In the eastern mountains an additional 1 to 3 inches of snow below 6500 feet and 3 to 6 inches above 7 thousand feet. Lower chance high end snowfall above 7 thousand feet around 8 inches. Will see 25 to 30 mph winds in the Snake River Plain with gusts up to 50 mph. All elevations below 6 thousand feet to 6500 feet will see rain today. Winds are expected to diminish after sunset in the Snake River Plain. Highs today mid 30s to mid 40s mountains and upper 40s to lower 50s in the Snake River Plain and Eastern Magic Valley. Lows overnight tonight single digits to low teens mountains and 20s in the valleys.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 132 PM MST Thu Dec 18 2025

A few lingering snow showers will be possible across the southern highlands Saturday, otherwise dry conditions are expected across much of the region. After a brief relative cool down, temperatures resurge Sunday as moisture returns to the region ahead of slowly amplifying trough off the Pacific coast. Ensemble and clusters maintain good agreement through most of the extended, but begin to deviate some on the depth of the trough Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. These differences have minimal impact on the character of the forecast. Conditions remain unsettled throughout the holiday travel period, including Christmas day. The amplification pushes more southwest flow into East Idaho, continuing to keep daytime temperatures well above normal, and snow levels high. Average snow levels vary between 6500-7500 feet across most of the region, so most of the lower elevations will see rain while higher elevations accumulate the snow. Thus travel impacts will likely be relegated to passes, and a white Christmas is NOT expected for most communities in East Idaho, given the current scenario.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1024 AM MST Fri Dec 19 2025

We will continue to see a mix of conditions through at least early evening at all TAF sites before we see precipitation ending quickly from north to south. We will likely stay VFR/MVFR, although there is low to moderate potential of going IFR during periods of heavier precipitation. The risk of seeing snow at TAF sites is low, but MOST LIKELY occurring during a period of heavier precipitation when temperatures are dropping. This would become an issue first at DIJ and SUN due to cooler temperatures in place already, spreading to the other TAF sites as colder air arrives...basically meaning a race to see if it cools enough for that to happen before things wrap up. Otherwise, we will see some lower clouds around tonight and tomorrow morning. We did go MVFR with that scenario at DIJ and IDA and seems more likely for that to happen at those airports given the pattern. The question will be SUN as winds toward sunrise and tomorrow MAY go light enough or become variable, and any stratus around would get pulled into the Wood River Valley. Confidence is very low at the moment based on lack of solid evidence there will be enough low clouds around for that to happen.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Wind Advisory until 8 PM MST this evening for IDZ052>054. Winter Weather Advisory until 5 AM MST Saturday for IDZ060-063- 064-066. Winter Storm Warning until 5 AM MST Saturday for IDZ071>074.