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.

- Warming trend underway for the rest of the week with highs approaching 100 degrees in the lower elevations on Friday.

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

DISCUSSION

Issued at 154 AM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026

No big changes in the short term forecast today, though we are seeing the smoke make it a bit farther into the Snake River Plain early this morning as noted by decreased visibility of 3 to 6 miles from Boise to Twin Falls. We are expecting this smoke to continue its eastward movement to at least Burley, if not into Pocatello this morning. This smoke is expected to impact air quality today with an air quality alert continuing at least through today. Highs today will be a bit warmer than yesterday, making it into the low to mid 80s for most.

High pressure will keep us dry throughout the week with no precipitation in the forecast until early next week, and even then it doesn't look like much. Highs will continually warm up this week, reaching near 100 degrees on Friday afternoon in the lower elevations. Wind gusts each afternoon will be around 15 to 25 mph with a few pockets of gusts closer to 30 mph out across the desert.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 535 AM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026

Overall, VFR conditions are expected throughout the day today, but drops to MVFR seem more likely today than yesterday as another round of wildfire smoke is moving into the area. The best chance for VIS to drop to 3 or 4SM due to smoke will be at BYI, PIH, and SUN. Smoke is expected to thin later this evening into the overnight hours as some FEW upper level clouds move through the area.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 154 AM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026

We remain in northwest flow aloft as high pressure continues to build in over much of the West over the next few days. Highs will gradually warm and by the time we reach Friday, the lower elevations will be pushing to near triple digit temperatures. Overall, we stay near critical fire weather conditions over the next few days with wind gusts ranging from about 15 to 25 mph and min RHs staying very dry, at about 10 to 20 percent across all of Eastern Idaho. While there will likely be a few areas out across the Arco Desert/INL area that hit Red Flag conditions each afternoon, it's not until Friday, Saturday, and Sunday that wind gusts increase a bit more and become more widespread.

AIR QUALITY

Issued at 154 AM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026

An air quality alert continues for Caribou, Oneida, Bingham, Bannock and Power Counties due to impacts from wildfire smoke. Air quality is expected to remain "unhealthy" through Wednesday.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Air Quality Alert until 4 PM MDT Wednesday for IDZ052-054-055- 057>059-062-063.