textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Dry weather expected through at least the middle of next week

- Fog and low clouds will dissipate this morning

- A slight cooldown expected but temperatures still at or just above average

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 105 AM MST Fri Jan 16 2026

A backdoor cold front is moving through east Idaho during the overnight hours. We will see a wind switch from upvalley (southwest) across the Snake River Plain to downvalley (northeast) into the morning hours. A considerable amount of low stratus and fog had worked up the Snake River Plain during the evening. Much of the high res models show this moisture eroding away as the winds make their switch. A dense fog advisory is currently in effect for the eastern Magic Valley and we'll probably continue it but not expand it with the models showing the fog dissipating quickly this morning. It will take a little longer for the wind shift and drier air to work into the Magic Valley. But even there, the fog should start to break up around mid morning. Temps today are a couple degrees cooler than yesterday with the frontal passage.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 1252 PM MST Thu Jan 15 2026

Things look dry until the latter half of next week. The ridge breaks down by then and does allow some moisture work into our area as the flow is more westerly than northerly. Until then, expect more of the same weather-wise. We don't expect the stronger inversions to break until we reach that point in time.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 337 AM MST Fri Jan 16 2026

Winds are weakening at PIH and IDA which may allow for fog formation for a few hours this morning. Meanwhile, drier air behind a backdoor cold front is working down the Snake Plain. The HRRR shows improvement arriving at IDA around 12/13Z this morning with PIH and BYI breaking up around 16Z. Poor conditions may hold on at DIJ until late morning with the moisture trapped in the Teton Valley. The downslope has finally arrived at SUN which means they should be clear for the rest of the day.

AIR QUALITY

Issued at 1252 PM MST Thu Jan 15 2026

An AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY remains in place for the Pocatello area, our side of the Cache Valley, and south of Malad toward Samaria. We will continue to see limited mixing for the next several days. Something to watch will be with the ridge shifted west and northerly flow across central and eastern Idaho. It remains to be seen if that is strong enough to mix out inversions and "clear the air". We will leave things as is at the moment.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Dense Fog Advisory until noon MST today for IDZ051-055. Air Stagnation Advisory until noon MST Sunday for IDZ054-059.