textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Quieter Weather Today: Expect a temporary break in widespread weather today, though isolated showers persist in the Eastern Highlands.

- High-Impact Wednesday: A potent storm system brings widespread moisture and high winds, with gusts of 4045 mph likely across the Snake Plain.

- Significant Late-Week Cold: Temperatures plummet Wednesday night. Thursday and Friday will be notably cold with highs in the 30s and 40s and light snow possible on valley floors. - Hard Freeze Likely: Widespread lows in the 20s are expected Friday and Saturday mornings. Due to the early start of the growing season, Freeze Watches/Warnings may be issued to protect vulnerable crops.

- Rapid Weekend Recovery: Conditions dry out by Saturday with a significant warming trend returning temperatures to the 60s by Sunday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 141 AM MDT Tue Apr 14 2026

A brief reprieve in widespread activity arrives today as the region sits between weather systems. While most of the area will remain dry, high-resolution guidance suggests a few lingering, isolated showers remain possible across the Eastern Highlands throughout the afternoon. This window of relative quiet will be short-lived; a robust weather system is expected to push into the Central Mountains early Wednesday morning, with precipitation chances increasing steadily from west to east as the day progresses. This midweek system appears to be a significant moisture producer for all of Eastern Idaho. Beyond the precipitation, Wednesday is slated to be the windiest day of the weekparticularly for the upper Snake River Plainwith gusts of 4045 mph likely requiring a Wind Advisory in future forecast packages.

A strong cold front will sweep through the region late Wednesday into Thursday morning, dropping snow levels rapidly to all valley floors. A much colder air mass will settle in behind the front, driving Thursday's highs into the upper 30s and low 40sa sharp 15-degree drop from Wednesday. Recent model trends suggest Thursday and Friday may be even chillier than previously anticipated. These plummeting temperatures, combined with persistent gusts of 30 to 40 mph, will create a significant raw chill. Consequently, light snow reaching valley floors is increasingly likely starting Thursday morning. While valley accumulations are expected to be minor (an inch or less), more impactful snow is forecast for the higher terrain, where winter weather headlines may be necessary.

The secondary, and perhaps more significant, impact of this cold air mass involves local agriculture. Widespread sub- freezing temperatures are expected Friday and Saturday mornings, with lows dropping into the 20s across primary growing regions and the teens elsewhere. Although it is early in the season for frost/freeze products, the unseasonably warm winter has accelerated plant growth, making it necessary to issue Freeze Watches or Warnings to protect vulnerable crops.

Lingering mountain precipitation will persist into Friday, though the region will slowly dry out over the course of the day. Looking ahead to the weekend, ensemble guidance indicates the cold upper-level trough will begin to exit the region. As high pressure builds by Saturday, temperatures will trend back toward seasonal normals before climbing well above normal by Sunday, with 60s likely returning to valley locations. Looking into next week, models suggest another disturbance may approach the Pacific Northwest, with moisture potentially returning as early as Monday.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 521 AM MDT Tue Apr 14 2026

Early morning satellite imagery and surface observations show areas of low stratus impacting the Snake Plain terminals. Satellite trends suggest that KBYI is next within the next hour or so. This should lead to some prolonged MVFR CIGs that are currently forecast to linger until late morning before some gradual clearing is expected. Once again, winds will increase in the valley terminals to around 15-20 kts by midday but it does look like there won't be much precip to contend with today aside from perhaps an isolated shower chance around KDIJ later this afternoon. Late in the period, clouds will be on the increase as we start to feel the effects from our next weather system. KSUN will be the first to see lowering CIGs and increasing precip potential as it gradually overspreads the rest of eastern Idaho just beyond 15/12Z.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.