textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- A break in the weather for most today.

- Light to moderate snow develops this afternoon in the mountains and southeast highlands, continues through all areas until Wednesday night.

- Lower elevations will see overnight snow and daytime rain as temperatures continue slightly above normal for the time of year.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 119 PM MST Mon Feb 9 2026

Today through Thu night...Expect clouds to increase during the day today, with rain and snow first developing in the southeast corner of the forecast area in the Bear River range. By evening, the snow will develop in the central Idaho mountains and the rest of the surrounding highlands. The heaviest amounts in the west southwest flow will be in all the highlands that border WY. Light but continuous snow will accumulate in excess of 5 inches in these highland zones: the Caribou Range, the Big Hole Mountains, and the Island Park/Centennial Mountain region, in addition to snow continuing in the Bear River Range west of Bear Lake. Heaviest accumulations are consistent across the deterministic models and so also the NBM, with Wed afternoon being peak snow accumulation. However, Wed morning is a close second. The central Idaho mountains don't receive much because the main low will be off the central CA coast, pumping in moisture from the south, with weak flow over the central Idaho region.

Thus Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for the four zones mentioned above. At lower elevations in the region, like the Teton Valley and Bear Lake basin, the snow will mix with rain. Snow in the Snake River plain is limited to the northwest side of the plain where the higher elevations are, but it does include the city of Rexburg (right around an inch or so there).

For Thu, the snow accumulation lessens, but does continue for the highlands bordering UT and WY.

Lower elevation afternoon temperatures will warm into the 40s for the eastern Magic Valley/Snake River plain today, with some cooling in the northern end of the Snake River plain on Wed. Expect cooler temperatures on Thu as the main trough passes to the east. Clouds linger through Thu night and this will keep overnight lows somewhat mild in the southeastern half of the forecast area, then the clearer skies in the central Idaho mountains will allow lows to sink into the teens.

Fri through Mon night...The main low in the western states moves in a southeastward direction, away from the Gem State, and should give a sunny and dry day for Fri. At worst there may continue a threat along the UT border region. By Sat, a slight majority of the model solutions/cluster have this upper level ridge holding on, but a solid percentage have this upper level ridge already breaking down with about 20 percent of the solutions having it already onshore in the Pacific Northwest. Sun and Mon appear to have the upper level low deepen and dominate the pattern all the way to the Rockies, so expect a wet Washington's Birthday/President's Day weekend here in eastern Idaho. However, the abundant southerly flow keeps temperatures mild; for example, Pocatello staying in the upper 40s, possibly hitting 50.

Wind appears to be light to moderate, with increased wind during the weekend storm, but nothing reaching Wind Advisory levels.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1058 PM MST Mon Feb 9 2026

Mid- to high-level clouds will gradually thicken and lower tonight and Tuesday, coming in from the southwest. Rain/snow showers will eventually arrive as well, but confidence is low through at least Tuesday evening. Expect VFR conditions.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 5 AM MST Thursday for IDZ060. Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 5 AM MST Thursday for IDZ063-064-066.