textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Wildfire smoke will continue to impact the area on and off for the next few days. Expect decreased air quality at times with an air quality advisory remaining in effect for Custer County.

- Heat Advisory continues through this evening for the eastern Magic Valley, South Hills, and Snake River Plain. Expect slight cooling Sunday with a cooling trend through the week.

- Will see better chance for precipitation Thursday into next weekend.

- Very small chance for an isolated shower or storm this afternoon, mainly in the South Hills.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 201 PM MDT Sat Aug 8 2026

Hot conditions remain in place today with low elevations in the mid to upper 90s with localized areas reaching 100. Heat advisory for much of the area remains in effect until 11 pm. Only very low chance of showers and thunderstorms in southern mountains. General dry conditions expected through mid week with a cooling trend as upper ridge flattens a bit with more of a westerly push. Areas of smoke will remain for the next couple of days as well with Custer County still in an air quality advisory. By late week flow aloft becomes more southwesterly which may allow some of the monsoonal moisture to return with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the grids Thursday through next Saturday. Temperatures fall to below normal with the expected cloud cover Thursday through Saturday as well with low elevations in the upper 70s and 80s and mountains mainly upper 60s and 70s.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/

Issued at 453 PM MDT Sat Aug 8 2026

Main impact will be any potential smoke visibility restrictions. At this time have some 5 miles at SUN until sunset then raised to 6 and kept other sites no worse than 6 statute miles overnight and Sunday during they day. The 20 knot wind gusts at IDA and PIH early this evening will also drop off after 02Z. Similar conditions Sunday with diurnal wind increases after 18Z with gusts likely up to 20 knots at PIH, IDA and DIJ.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 118 PM MDT Sat Aug 8 2026

Elevated fire weather conditions are anticipated through the first part of next week due to the combination of critical minimum RH values and gusty winds. While min RH will largely range 10 to 15 percent throughout the period, winds will be marginal across much of the region. Confidence in winds reaching threshold is higher across Fire Weather Zones 475 and 476, where widespread gusts to at least 25 mph are expected with gusts reaching 30 mph along ridgelines. Therefore, a RED FLAG WARNING remains in effect from 1 PM through 9 PM today for the two aforementioned zones. Upon expiration, the RED FLAG WARNING will need to be reissued to account for this extended period of dry and breezy conditions. Winds will increase slightly Sunday and Monday, which is when we expect more pockets of Red Flag conditions to materialize elsewhere, as well. A Red Flag Warning may be warranted for FWZ 410 on Monday due to more widespread 30 mph wind gusts.

A deepening trough along the Pacific coast will continue to gradually flatten the ridge of high pressure over Idaho, resulting in a gradual cool-down through late this upcoming week. Daytime highs will return to around normal by mid-week, turning cooler than normal late week. Dry conditions will linger for another week or so, with models indicating the return of monsoon moisture by the latter half of next week.

AIR QUALITY

Issued at 209 AM MDT Sat Aug 8 2026

An Air Quality Advisory remains in effect for Custer County through Monday afternoon due to air quality expected to remain in the "moderate" to "unhealthy for sensitive groups" categories.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Heat Advisory until 11 PM MDT this evening for IDZ051>059-062. Air Quality Alert until 3 PM MDT Monday for IDZ068>074. Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening for IDZ475-476.