textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Winter Weather Advisory ends by noon today. Snow ends by 6 PM this evening.

- High pressure with northwesterly air flow means clear skies but a slow warm up through Monday.

- Temperatures level off Tuesday as the next low arrives for Tuesday night, then a second low arrives for Wednesday night through Friday morning.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 135 AM MDT Fri Apr 3 2026

Today through Sunday night. Snow storm has clear all by the eastern and southeastern highlands as far as the forecast area is concerned. First 18 hours of forecast continues to generate rain and snow over that area through 04/06Z. An upper level ridge builds into the northern Rockies with the axis staying to the west with a sharp SE to NW orientation. This keeps the upper level flow from the northwest through the weekend. On Sun night, the upper level ridge axis is shoved eastward to the ID-OR border, but still staying dry. This upper level ridging keeps skies clear until Sun afternoon, then look for increasing cloudiness Sun night.

So temperatures will warm, but the northwesterly air flow should mean a slow warm up despite the strengthening insolation. By Sun afternoon highs should be 8 to 12 deg F above normal for the time of year. Low temperatures in the Snake River plain will flirt with below freezing both tonight, Sat night, and Sun night, but with a warming trend.

Wind may stay elevated today, but nowhere near the magnitude of yesterday. Expect light, mainly slope-valley wind effect.

Mon through Thu...The next upper level trough makes it onshore in OR and CA at the start of this period. This trough merely flattens the ridge to more westerly flow, leaving little in the way of precipitation for Mon. A second, stronger trough digs south southeastward out of British Columbia, bringing strong wind and precipitation. The wind will be typical spring-style strong with a potential for Advisory criteria, but precipitation has only slight chance of accumulating at lower elevations with low chance PoPs for the Snake River plain and even for places like Stanley. And precipitation does not reach this far south until Wed, so even Tue should be mainly wind.

Temperatures even at 6000ft-7000ft elevation will be warming above freezing every day during the period, so while there will be overnight snow accumulation, it should at least partially melt during the day. Snake River plain overnight lows should mainly stay above freezing. Afternoon highs are cooler, but still staying above normal until perhaps Thu when they will be near normal.

Wind during this extended period should become breezy to windy every afternoon, perhaps very windy on Tue with the second trough.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1133 AM MDT Fri Apr 3 2026

Remnants of the recent system linger over East Idaho terminals late this morning. DIJ still MVFR with very light SHRASN but all other sites have transitioned to VFR. Winds remain breezy 12-18kts sustained for PIH, BYI, and IDA, gradually decreasing to around 10kts late this afternoon. DIJ may see a return to low MVFR or even IFR late tonight as inversions redevelop in the valley. Otherwise expect VFR with light winds.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory until noon MDT today for IDZ060-063- 064-066.