textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Rain and snow continues through Monday before letting up

- Temperatures cool off heading through the next few days

- More rain and snow expected after this event

SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 228 PM MST Sun Jan 4 2026

Only slight changes to the forecast thinking the afternoon. Afternoon satellite imagery shows widespread cloud cover across the region with radar returns showing scattered rain/snow continuing depending on locations. Lower valleys remain all rain with mountain valleys wavering between rain/snow depending on elevation. Snow levels remain around 6500 ft or so this afternoon but should lower later this evening and certainly into the morning hours on Monday. Hi-res CAMs show the coverage remaining a bit hit or miss in nature with perhaps a bit of a lull later this evening and the first part of the overnight hours. Thereafter, CAMs show a bit more precip development especially across the eastern half of the forecast area towards daybreak and into the late morning hours. Snow levels will be dropping during this period and based off hi-res model soundings, could see some snow falling in the Snake Plain and Magic Valley during this period although the moisture will be quickly diminishing. It's possible though that we see a light dusting in spots but impacts should be limited given the wet ground and marginal air temperatures. The only changes to forecast was to upgrade the Bear River Range to a Winter Storm Warning as CAMs paint this area with substantial QPF over the next 24 hours which should allow for 1 to 2 feet of snow to fall over the next 24 hours or so. Otherwise, the existing advisories remain in place as is.

LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 228 PM MST Sun Jan 4 2026

Series of shortwaves and fronts continue to impact East Idaho through most of the week with mostly valley rain and mountain snow. The biggest change today is that models still trend slightly cooler through the week, but not as cool as previous runs. Gusty conditions remain possible with the front on Wednesday. Looking to the end of the week and the weekend, there are some ensemble cluster differences that lead to some significant differences in precipitation potential. Two of the clusters representing about half of the ensemble solutions build the ridge along the coast, leading toward slightly drier solutions for East Idaho Thursday into Friday. The remaining ensembles hold the ridge slightly further off shore with wetter solutions for East Idaho. This may be the reason for a slightly more mild temperature blend headed into the weekend as well. The ridge shifts inland for the weekend, resulting in drier conditions.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 1038 PM MST Sun Jan 4 2026

A wide range of flight categories are forecast throughout the period, with a degradation trend toward IFR during the early morning hours, as well as during periods of heavier snow, before gradual improvement as precipitation winds down Monday afternoon. Snow is forecast at KSUN and KDIJ, but there is also a chance for mixed precipitation/a brief period of snow at KIDA, and less probable but nevertheless possible at KPIH as well, beginning Monday morning.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Storm Warning until 3 PM MST Monday for IDZ060. Winter Weather Advisory until 3 PM MST Monday for IDZ064- 072>074.