textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Warming up for Thursday and Friday.

- Low chance of precipitation returns as early as Thursday afternoon in the South Hills.

- Stronger precipitation and thunderstorm threats arrive starting Friday afternoon, intensify over the weekend ahead of early Sunday cold front.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 105 PM MDT Wed Apr 8 2026

Yesterday's cold front has left behind some slightly cooler temperatures for this afternoon, though most of us will still be in the mid 60s, and breezy conditions with gusts today around 30 to 35 mph. On Thursday, a combination of a weak shortwave passing just to our north and an area of low pressure off the coast of California will provide just enough moisture and push to bring slight rain chances (think 20-30%) to parts of the South Hills and Southeastern Highlands. Many will stay dry and we'll warm up a few more degrees, back into the low 70s.

On Friday, the low off the CA coast gets pushed farther inland as another low begins to take its place at the same time yet another low drops south out of the coastal British Columbia area. This first low moving inland will bring an increasing chance for precipitation the the Central Mountains on Friday and some breezy winds once again.

The "second" low will be the main focus and the strongest of the 3. The BC low actually drops southward during the weekend and converges with the second low as it slowly moves eastward. Confusing, yes, but it generally means increasing precipitation chances for Saturday and Sunday with models now showing widespread rain showers and mountain snow for Eastern Idaho through the weekend and even still on Monday. Wind gusts will also increase to the 30-40 mph range on Saturday and Sunday. Currently, the NBM is showing a probability of 72-hour rainfall totals exceeding 0.25" (ending Tuesday morning) in the Snake River Plain at a 50 to 70 percent chance. During the same timeframe it shows about a 20 percent chance of 0.50" of rain. While some of this moisture will fall as snow, 72 hour snowfall totals only show about a 20 percent chance of at least 6 inches on Galena Summit and Emigration Summit. So much of it will be at and above pass level.

The cold front associated with this main low looks to come through Eastern Idaho late Saturday/early Sunday which means thunderstorms look a bit more likely on Saturday before temperatures fall behind the front. Highs will be about 10 to 15 degrees cooler on Sunday and Monday, in the low to mid 50s. Light showers could linger into Tuesday, though we will have to see how quickly the low departs to our east.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 401 PM MDT Wed Apr 8 2026

VFR conditions are expected through the period. Breezy west winds forecast to continue throughout the early evening hours. Sustained winds in the 10 to 20 kt range seem likely with gusts nearing 20 to 30 kts, especially at KIDA, KPIH, and KBYI. Slightly lower wind forecast for KDIJ and KSUN. Will likely see some clouds on the increase later this evening and overnight leading to some SCT/BKN CIGs but these should be MID-level to HIGH-level clouds and of little impact before gradual clearing returns for the mid/late morning hours Thursday. Expect FEW to SCT MID-level clouds with heating tomorrow with just a FEW HIGH- level clouds with no precipitation expected under overall high pressure. Late tomorrow into Friday expect clouds to move into the area in southwest flow ahead of an upper level low expected to move into the area over the weekend.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.