textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- A prolonged period of windy conditions is expected most of the week

- Strong winds across portions of the Snake Plain and Magic Valley this afternoon and evening

- Cool temperatures Tuesday behind the cold front, but mild temperatures return for later in the week as gusty winds and high elevation showers persist

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1203 AM MDT Mon Mar 9 2026

The main theme this week will be wind, and sometimes a LOT of it. The days with stronger winds out of the next 7 will be today, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. For today, we are still forecasting gusts of 35-55 mph over a good portion of central and eastern Idaho. The strongest will be across the ridgelines of the central mountains and eastern highlands, Bear River Range, the upper half of the Snake Plain and Lava Beds across the Magic Valley. We have a WIND ADVISORY for the Snake Plain this afternoon and evening. We will be extending this back into the Magic Valley as some gusts will exceed 45 mph. There is still some potential of gusts over 55 mph across the Arco Desert and bench areas around Idaho Falls and Rexburg. That chance is still around 40-80%. We did push wind and wind gusts to reflect a short wind of gusts hitting 60-ish mph across the Arco Desert/INL and those bench areas. It is not enough in terms of time or area to hoist the High Wind Warning flag for those areas. For tomorrow, winds will be strong once again, but slightly lower than today. The focus shifts a bit south tomorrow to across the Magic Valley and lower half of the Snake Plain, with a 20-60% chance of gusts over 55 mph. We may need another advisory tomorrow, but will look at later today or this evening. Thursday and Saturday look potentially more windy than today, with a pretty widespread 30-80% chance of exceeding gusts of 55 mph both afternoons.

We are looking at some occasional showers throughout the week. A few showers are possible today, with an uptick tonight and Tuesday across the central mountains and eastern highlands. In fact, the only day we MIGHT be shower free is Wednesday. When we do see showers, precipitation amounts will be light and mostly confined to the mountains. The pattern dips far enough south tomorrow and again later in the week and next weekend to MAYBE see a few showers farther south in the mountains and even the Snake Plain/Magic Valley. At the moment, chances outside of the central mountains and eastern highlands until next weekend are VERY LOW. Temperatures today will be 5-10 degrees cooler than Sunday, but still looking at above average temperatures with 50s in the lower valleys. Tuesday will be even cooler behind the front, actually a bit below average with highs in the upper 30s to mid 40s for lower elevations. We will quickly rebound later in the week.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 406 AM MDT Mon Mar 9 2026

Gusty winds will be the main issue for all TAF sites through this evening, with the strongest winds late morning through sunset. Gusts of 25-45kts out (lightest at SUN and strongest at BYI, IDA, and PIH) of a west to southwest direction are likely. Low level wind shear may be an issue before winds pick late morning at SUN. It looks like the period of upvalley wind will be short, as strong westerly flow produces a gap/cross wind from the west most of the afternoon and early evening. We will see a few showers around, with any potential impact at DIJ. However, potential isn't high enough to warrant PROB30 or VCSH for now.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Wind Advisory from noon today to 8 PM MDT this evening for IDZ051>055-065.