textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Wildfire smoke continues to impact the area on and off for the next few days. Expect decreased air quality at times with air quality advisories in effect.

- Warming trend has begun with highs approaching 100 degrees in the lower elevations Friday through the weekend.

- No precipitation in the forecast for this week, but increasing potential for monsoon moisture to return next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 151 AM MDT Thu Aug 6 2026

Wildfire smoke today is likely to be very similar to how it was yesterday. Meaning it will still be noticeable in the air and still make air quality "moderate" to "unhealthy for sensitive groups," but not impact visibility or be as thick as it was earlier in the week. That said, air quality alerts still continue for parts of the eastern Magic Valley today. The heat up is on and highs today are looking to warm into the mid to upper 90s for most of the Snake River Plain and lower elevations in the South Hills and Central Mountains. Otherwise, look for more mid to upper 80s in our mid- elevation towns. Wind gusts this afternoon once again will be around 20 to 25 mph for many. Expect Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to be almost identical weather days with highs back in the 90s to low triple digits. Overnight temperatures will also be warmer, likely staying in the upper 50s and low to mid 60s for many, so heat products may need to be issued later today, especially for parts of the eastern Magic Valley and South Hills. Early next week, troughing begins to move into the West, which will help flatten our ridge of high pressure and slowly push it a bit farther east, allowing monsoon moisture to make its way back into East Idaho. Which, at this point, we will welcome any potential precipitation chances. This slight pattern change brings a slight drop in our afternoon temperatures, but they will likely still remain in the low to mid 90s for the second half of next week.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1035 PM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

VFR conditions are expected overall through the next 24 hours. Smoke could impact all terminals, except DIJ, tomorrow morning. So, have put in 6SM with smoke for tomorrow morning for all TAF sites except DIJ. In general, less smoke is moving into our area with a slowly shifting wind pattern today through Friday. So, visibility less than 6SM is not that likely tomorrow morning. BYI and SUN would be the most likely TAF sites to drop below 6SM, if smoke does work into our area more than the models and current real-time data are showing. Expect overall light winds this evening into tomorrow morning with gusts up to around 15 kts likely by tomorrow afternoon. Winds drop off again by early tomorrow evening.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 151 AM MDT Thu Aug 6 2026

Fire weather conditions continue to remain near-critical as high pressure sits over the West through the weekend. Temperatures will continue to warm with highs pushing towards the lower triple digits on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Each afternoon will see wind gusts of 20 to 25 mph for most with gusts reaching 30 mph across parts of the Arco desert. Min RHs also remain very low, less than 20 percent for all of Eastern Idaho. We stay just below Red Flag Warning criteria for the most part, but a slight increase in wind gusts on Sunday could be an opportunity to finally issue a fire weather product. Next week we see our pattern change slightly as troughing moves into the West and flattens the ridge of high pressure over the area. This will bring a minor drop in temperatures later next week and a small increase in monsoon moisture returning.

AIR QUALITY

Issued at 151 AM MDT Thu Aug 6 2026

An air quality alert continues for Cassia, Lincoln, and Minidoka counties through today where air quality is expected to remain "moderate" to "unhealthy for sensitive groups."

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Air Quality Alert until 1 PM MDT this afternoon for IDZ051- 055>057.