textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- A prolonged period of windy conditions begins this afternoon.

- A Wind Advisory is in effect for much of the Upper Snake Plain on Monday, with a 60-75% chance of gusts exceeding 55 mph in some areas.

- 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 148 AM MST Sun Mar 8 2026

Northwest flow aloft will turn zonal early today as the ridge of high pressure flattens. Westerly wind will start to increase and remain elevated through the entirety of the week. Westerly winds will allow temperatures to drastically warm into the 50s and low 60s across low elevations, with the exception of Tuesday when temperatures cool off to seasonal norms behind a cold front on Monday. Daytime temperatures will rebound quickly though, with 50s and 60s back in the forecast Wednesday through next weekend.

For the entirety of the week, showery precipitation will continue in the high terrain with above normal temperatures supporting a rain/snow mix much of the week. Total snow accumulation today through Tuesday will be another 2 to 4 inches above 6,000 feet in the Sawtooths and Centennials.

The cold front shifting through Monday night will lend to further enhanced winds on Monday, with a WIND ADVISORY in effect for the Snake River Plain. NBM 24-max max wind and wind gust probabilities indicate that US-20 through Craters of the Moon and roadways east of US-20 continue to stand a 50% to 80% chance of exceeding Wind Advisory/reaching High Wind Warning thresholds, while I-15 north of Idaho Falls and US-20 west of Idaho Falls stand slightly lower probabilities of the same, at around 40% to 60% chance. Winds will continue run near advisory level after Monday, with Thursday looking to be the next timeframe to solidly observe widespread advisory- level winds. In fact, 24-hour max wind and wind gust probabilities look to be extremely similar to those on Monday and for the same aforementioned corridors. So, while this windy regime sticks around through next weekend, Monday and Thursday look to be the most impactful days.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/

Issued at 927 PM MST Sat Mar 7 2026

Expect mvfr stratus to impact IDA, PIH and DIJ overnight. The stratus really should not fall to IFR categories as we have enough wind to keep ceilings up. Models show stratus eroding away during the day on Sunday as stronger winds arrive. Expect more of a crosswind at SUN Sunday afternoon as opposed to a tailwind.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Wind Advisory from noon to 8 PM MST Monday for IDZ052>054-065.