textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Patchy dense fog across parts of Eastern Idaho overnight into Saturday morning.

- Conditions turn mostly dry this weekend, but northerly flow aloft will support very light snow showers across high elevations.

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

DISCUSSION

Issued at 110 PM MST Fri Mar 6 2026

As our upper level trough continues to move eastward today, light snow showers in the Eastern Highlands are tapering off and mostly dry conditions will take over for the weekend. Sunshine today will help warm many of us up into the low to mid 40s for afternoon highs and help begin melting snow. Winds remain breezy at times with gusts around 20 to 30 mph. As we melt snow and release some of that moisture back into the atmosphere we will see the potential for patchy dense fog increasing tonight into Saturday morning. Models want to bring some patchy fog throughout the Snake River Plain, but confidence in overall coverage is low. Precipitation and snow totals were higher around Pocatello than Idaho Falls and Burley, but the CAMs want to bring fog into those areas, too. So, have gone with a blanket 20 percent chance of patchy dense fog through most of the Snake River Plain and eastern Magic Valley. More of the same seems likely Saturday night into Sunday as we'll do even more melting on Saturday given that highs will be a couple of degrees warmer than today.

Northwest flow aloft on Saturday will support light snow showers up in the Central Mountains and Island Park area, but any accumulation looks to remain below 2 inches with some isolated higher amounts up on mountain tops. This northwest flow transitions to zonal flow aloft during the day on Sunday and temperatures will start to climb. In fact, Pocatello will have a 30-40 percent chance of reaching 60 degrees on Sunday while the eastern Magic Valley warms into the low 60s and the Idaho Falls areas warms into the upper 50s with about a 10 percent chance of reaching 60 degrees. With this warmer weather also comes more wind. Gusts on Sunday afternoon will be in the 25 to 35 mph range for many and Monday will be even windier with these windy conditions last all week long. Highs will remain in the 50s for most on Monday, but a cold front passing through Monday night will drop us in the 30s and 40s for Tuesday. This front will bring some precipitation chances with it, but looks confined to the higher elevations for the most part at this time. Warming will get back underway on Wednesday afternoon as the gusty winds continue.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1003 PM MST Fri Mar 6 2026

Main concern is development of low stratus late tonight into tomorrow morning. IDA is the main TAF site that could see the stratus tonight but models are showing it holding off until early tomorrow morning. It looks like stratus is more likely over fog with winds picking up late tonight at IDA. Expect conditions to lift into a vfr deck around midday with vfr ceilings likely at most sites tomorrow afternoon. Winds likely picking up to around 15kts or so at most sites tomorrow.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.