textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Moderate to locally heavy snowfall continues for portions of the southern and eastern highlands though the evening. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for the Bear River Range.

- Strong winds with gusts over 45 mph will continue in the Eastern Magic Valley and South Hills through the evening commute. A Wind Advisory remains in effect for these areas.

- Mild unsettled conditions are forecast for most of next week, along with periods of windy to very windy conditions.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 144 PM MST Thu Mar 5 2026

Upper trough is moving through East Idaho per satellite imagery, with surface meso-low sagging from Upper Snake Plain into the eastern highlands. Radar shows bands of snow continuing to fall along the interstate corridors through the Snake Plain, along with adjacent bench/mountain areas, and high-res CAMS indicate potential for convergence band to sag south through the Snake Plain early to mid-afternoon with an additional half-inch or so of accumulation possible roughly between Blackfoot and American Falls. Only showers remain across the central mountains and Island Park areas, and will expire the Island Park and Big Hole Ranges Winter Weather Advisories early. Snow continues to shift into the southern and eastern highlands through the evening, and will continue the Winter Weather Advisories for the Bear River range. Additional accumulations through the evening are expected to range 3-6" with locally higher amounts above pass level. Winds across the Magic Valley/Southern Highlands are well into Wind Advisory territory today with gusts over 45 mph, so will continue that headline into the evening. The winds are expected to drop below advisory criteria by mid evening, and gradually abate through the remainder of the night to 10-20 mph sustained. One concern for tonight will be the amount of clearing with the back edge of the system as it starts to shift east. Clearing over fresh snow is always problematic for the formation of low stratus or fog. Right now confidence is low, so will leave it out of the forecast. Current probabilities of visibilities being reduced below 5 miles is about 25%, and less than 10% for restrictions below 1 mile.

The upper trough shifts east of the region during the day Friday, allowing dry conditions to shift back into the region under a transitory ridge, though a few snow showers will remain possible over higher elevations during the day. Temperatures are expected to warm, but the amount of warming could be blunted slightly by the fresh snow from today, which may not be well accounted for. That said, most lower elevations are forecast to warm back into the 40s Friday and into the 50s by Sunday. The ridge flattens into unsettled zonal flow for most of next week. Fast moving shortwave features may be able to produce periods of showers over higher elevations. Given the mild temperatures expected next week, expect a continuation of the valley rain/mountain snow mix. The big story for next week may be the wind, which is the favored impact in this type of pattern. Guidance is already suggestive of solid Wind Advisory conditions by Monday, and close to it for most of the remainder of the week.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1140 AM MST Thu Mar 5 2026

MVFR/IFR conditions continue at valley terminals in association with lingering snowfall. Hi-res models show the potential for another convergence band potentially impacting KPIH and KIDA over the next few hours. Seeming unlikely at this point that we warm enough in the valleys to transition to a mix, or rain, so SN appears the likely precip type once again leading to continued MVFR/IFR conditions. Winds remain elevated at KBYI this morning and will remain as such through much of the afternoon and into the evening. Gusts as high as 45 kts are possible but more likely around 30-35 kts. Mountain terminals of KDIJ and KSUN won't see winds nearly as breezy but snow will likely impact KDIJ over the next few hours but KSUN likely won't see more than showers at this point and of a short duration at that.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Wind Advisory until 8 PM MST this evening for IDZ055-056. Winter Weather Advisory until 2 AM MST Friday for IDZ060.