textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Red Flag Warning for the Central Mountains this afternoon due to low relative humidity and breezy winds.

- Very small chance for an isolated (virga) shower or storm this afternoon, mainly in the South Hills, very similar to yesterday.

- 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.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 210 AM MDT Sun Aug 9 2026

The heat continues today, though we will be just a couple of degrees "cooler" than yesterday. Still, expect to see highs in the mid 90s across much of the area. A RED FLAG WARNING will be in effect for the Central Mountains again today due to critically low relative humidity and breezy winds. We stay just barely below Red Flag criteria throughout the Snake River Plain this afternoon with wind gusts around 25 mph to 30 mph. In the same vein as Saturday's forecast, there is a very slight chance (again, about 10 percent) for a few virga showers in the South Hills this afternoon. You are more likely to see gusty winds under any radar returns today than any rainfall. The ridge of high pressure overhead gets flattened just a bit due to troughing developing along the West Coast early in the week ahead, and while this doesn't change the forecast much, it will drop our afternoon highs by just a couple of degrees each afternoon through the week ahead. Troughing deepens in the second half of the week as an area of low pressure moves through southwestern Canada and that will help drop temperatures into the low 80s by Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons. An increase in moisture looks more likely to hold off until the second half of the week. At this point, we will look forward to any precipitation we can wring out of the atmosphere, but will have to see how models changes over the next several days.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/

Issued at 528 AM MDT Sun Aug 9 2026

Some upper level clouds remain visitble on satellite early this morning. These FEW to SCT mid and upper level clouds will continue today, but are not expected to impacts conditions. Light wildfire smoke continues with 6SM FU remaining in the TAFs for BYI, PIH, and IDA this morning before working into SUN this afternoon. Winds are light and variable to start the day, but get a bit breezy at times in the afternoon with gusts 15 to 20 kts.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 210 AM MDT Sun Aug 9 2026

A RED FLAG WARNING will be in effect again this afternoon for Fire Weather Zones 475 and 476 in the Central Mountains due to low relative humidity and breezy winds. Considered adding Zone 410 to the Red Flag Warning for today as it looks likely that at least portions of the western half of the zone will meet criteria, but decided to hold off. Either way, expect elevated, near-critical fire weather conditions across much Eastern Idaho once again this afternoon due to very low RHs and breezy winds. It appears wind gusts will increase a bit more on Monday, so there will likely be some coordination with partners today about issuing a Red Flag Warning for Monday. While there will likely be some returns visible on radar again this afternoon, expect no precipitation to actually fall as it all remains virga. Some gusty winds around 40 to 50 mph would be more likely around those returns.

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 through the first half of the week ahead, with models indicating the return of monsoon moisture by the latter half of the 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

Air Quality Alert until 3 PM MDT Monday for IDZ068>074. Red Flag Warning from noon today to 9 PM MDT this evening for IDZ475-476.