textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Moderate to heavy mountain snow Today and Friday. Breezy to windy conditions Friday.

- Weather pattern to remain active into the week of Christmas

- Continued above normal temperatures through Christmas.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 1210 AM MST Thu Dec 18 2025

Had a bit of a break after the extreme winds yesterday but the next storm system will bring snow to the central mountains later this morning and continue off and on through Friday night. Will move into the eastern mountains this afternoon. Snow levels begin at valley floors and even the Snake River Plain may see snow at the beginning of the event but will quickly change to rain as warm air returns with snow levels by Friday morning in the 6 to 7 thousand foot range once again. Friday will also see a return to very breezy to windy conditions with 20 to 30 mph sustained winds expected with 30 to 40 mph gusts. Will be nowhere near yesterdays event wind speed wise. Warmth continues with highs today much cooler with 30s mountains and upper 30s to lower 40s valleys. Lows tonight in the 20s mountains to mid to upper 30s valleys. Highs Friday mid 40s to lower 50s valleys with all rain and 30s to lower 40s mountains. It will be much cooler Friday night with lows single digits to teens mountains and 20s valleys. With the winter storm warnings and advisories expecting over 10 inches of snow above 6 thousand feet in the warning areas and above 6 inches in the advisory areas. Mountain passes like Galena Summit will likely be well over a foot of snow.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 210 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025

Precipitation tails off during the day Saturday along with the wind.

We are seeing amplification of the Pacific trough along or off the coast beginning Sunday, resulting in increasing southwest flow into Idaho. Ensembles and clusters are in relative agreement in continuing precipitation chances through some of the heaviest travel days of the season. Given the southwest flow aloft, temperatures remain in the very mild pattern, and snow levels remain high. Thus lower elevations are expected to see all rain, with snow levels around/above 6000 ft. It's not great news for anyone at lower elevations hoping for a White Christmas, but the mountains will stand to see additions to the snow pack. Those traveling for the holidays will want to keep an eye on upcoming forecasts, as fluctuating snow levels could provide potential impacts for travel routes over higher elevation passes.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 451 AM MST Thu Dec 18 2025

Expect lower ceilings and precipiation to move in this afternoon at all sites. Have mixed rain and snow at PIH with MVFR ceilings after 20Z changing to rain after 02Z and VFR again by 10Z. Have snow at IDA after 22Z with MVFR ceilings changing to rain at 04Z. Rain at BYI after 19Z and kept ceilings VFR level. Started snow at SUN after 21Z with ceilings 15 hundred feet and lower through 12Z. Snow at DIJ after 19Z with 15 hundred foot ceilings dropping to 9 hundred after 00Z. Visibility in the snow 2 to 3 miles.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 5 AM MST Saturday for IDZ060-063-064-066. Winter Storm Warning until 5 AM MST Saturday for IDZ071>074.