textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- High pressure continues to bring mostly dry weather into next week.

- Pockets of patchy, dense fog this morning and again tonight.

- Gradual warming trend continues.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 215 AM MST Sun Jan 11 2026

Ridge of high pressure remains over Eastern Idaho again today with dry conditions continuing. High clouds passing over some low stratus/patchy fog may produce some seeder-feeder flurries, but no impacts are expected with no "real" accumulation out of any of it. Low stratus and patchy fog are a bit trickier to see on satellite tonight due to those upper level clouds passing through, but have seen some of it around the Driggs/Teton Valley area, around our office at times, and in the upper Snake River Plain based on satellite, ITD cameras, and visibility reports. While coverage area of patchy fog is minimal, visibility does drop quickly down to a mile or less at times if you have to drive through it. By 11 AM, there is a less than 20 percent chance of visibility below 5 miles across Eastern Idaho for the rest of today. After this morning's patchy dense fog, the rest of the day will be mostly to partly sunny with highs warming into the upper 30s and low 40s. Some patchy dense fog will be possible once again tonight into Monday morning with about a 20 to 25 percent chance of visibility dropping to 5 miles or less throughout Eastern Idaho.

LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 154 PM MST Sat Jan 10 2026

High pressure will maintain an inactive pattern for the duration of the extended period. The sole concern will be the potential for overnight and early morning fog and degraded air quality as a result of temperature inversions. Otherwise, conditions will remain dry and winds light under high pressure. Daytime temperatures will span the 30s and 40s, reaching near 10 degrees above normal for this time of year. Some locations in the eastern Magic Valley and South Hills regions will warm to within a few degrees of 50F by early to middle of next week. As indicated by the 500mb ensemble clusters, confidence is increasing amongst ensembles that the ridge of high pressure will maintain control of the upper-level pattern into at least early the following week.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1021 AM MST Sun Jan 11 2026

We continue to consider the potential for late night/morning fog or low stratus as high pressure builds over the region. However, confidence remains low as to whether or not terminals will be directly impacted, especially given the low probabilities amongst models and the patchy, dense nature of impacts observed previous mornings. Therefore, TEMPOs continue to seem to be the best forecast approach. While the HREF indicates a 15 to 20 percent chance of MVFR CIGs at KBYI with less than 10 percent elsewhere, the National Blend indicates around a 15% chance of MVFR to IFR CIGs at KPIH, KBYI, and KDIJ with closer to 25% chance at KIDA. The NBM also carries around a 20 to 25 percent probability of MVFR VIS (5 mi or less) at KPIH and KIDA between 10z and 18z with less chance elsewhere.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.