textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Strong to severe storms again this afternoon with gusts up to 60 mph and small hail the main threats.

- Mountain snow on and off through Monday with isolated to scattered valley rain showers.

- Seasonable temperatures through Wednesday before next system arrives bringing more precipitation and even cooler temperatures for Thursday and Friday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1221 PM MDT Sun Apr 12 2026

Another round of showers and thunderstorms is on tap for this afternoon and evening as the low we've been talking about for several days now continues to slowly make its way through northern California/eastern Oregon and into central Idaho. We're already starting to see things light up on radar this afternoon with very pulse-y thunderstorms popping up. These storms today will once again have the potential to produce strong to severe gusts to around 60 mph with small hail as all of Eastern Idaho is highlighted in SPC's "Marginal" risk today. Surface CAPE isn't quite as strong today, with the HREF ensemble generally showing ranges from 200-400 J/kg across the area, but more clearing/heating than what we say yesterday it will improve overall instability compared to yesterday. It will also be windy outside of storms, too, with gusts of 35-45 mph for many. The cold front associated with this system will be through by Monday, so highs on Monday afternoon will be cooler, only making it into the low to mid 50s for most. We continue to see showers into Monday, especially in the Central Mountains where snow levels will fall to near 5000-5500 ft for Monday which means more mountains snow ahead. Around Stanley, the forecast shows about 1 to 3 inches of snow while Galena Summit looks closer to 2 to 5 inches of snow from this afternoon to tomorrow night. Snow totals will be a bit lighter in the Eastern Highlands, less than an inch on Pine Creek Pass and closer to 2 to 4 inches for Emigration summit.

By Tuesday, this system will be departing and we will get a bit of a break in the activity, though a few isolated showers could linger in the Eastern Highlands into the afternoon. As soon as early Wednesday morning, our next system begins to move into the Central Mountains and will spread eastward throughout the rest of our CWA during the day. Wednesday will be a windy day, especially in the upper Snake River Plain where gusts are already forecast to be pushing 40-45 mph. Thursday will also be breezy with widespread gusts of 30-40 mph. This system looks to bring in decent moisture for everyone and colder temperatures as highs will go from mid to upper 50s on Wednesday to low to mid 40s on Thursday. With temperatures dropping and precipitation continuing, we are expecting more snowfall in the mid to upper elevations, but there will also be some potential for light snow down to valley floors early Thursday morning and early Friday morning. Of course, this is several days away, so we will watch this closely over the next few days.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 1040 PM MDT Sun Apr 12 2026

Expect overall dry conditions overnight until mid to late morning for SUN and the afternoon tomorrow for all other sties. DIJ has lingering vicinity showers currently, but showers will drop off soon in the next hour or two. Showers from an weakening upper-level low system will move over the Central mountain tomorrow morning. Models have slowed the precipitation at SUN. So, have pushed back rain showers starting at SUN until around 18z with VCSH starting around 12z. If showers start earlier for SUN in the morning, expect a rain/snow mix with MVFR CIGS. Look for VCSH showers for all other TAFS sites with heating in the afternoon along with increased winds with gusts around 15 to 25 kts for all sites. Again, expect MVFR conditions for TAF sites with any showers on station tomorrow afternoon.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.