textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Record or near record highs possible today and Wednesday with afternoon temperatures 20-25 degrees ABOVE AVERAGE

- A few mostly dry thunderstorms possible today, with better chances Wednesday

- Wind Advisory for much of Southeast Idaho Wednesday for gusts to 55 mph with the potential for higher gusts with showers and thunderstorms

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1200 PM MDT Tue May 12 2026

The next 36 hours across central and eastern Idaho will be fairly crazy as a low races across our area. Ahead of that, we are expecting record to near record highs as many areas will try and eclipse 90 degrees. With the warmer temperatures and mid level moisture swinging north, we are expecting some virga/sprinkles and stronger gusts with a few "showers" developing across the South Hills and Albion Mountains shifting north across the Magic Valley, INL, and central mountains through tonight. There is a 10-30% chance of gusts over 35 mph, with potential peak gusts closer to 50 mph. For Wednesday, expect the potential for light rain showers and thunderstorms to increase especially late morning through early evening. Gusts up to 55 mph are likely even without any help from thunderstorms. We have a WIND ADVISORY in effect for a good chunk of eastern Idaho. If the forecast holds, we could likely expand that a bit in areal coverage. With thunderstorms, we do expect gusts in excess of 55 mph and potentially over 65 mph. There is a MARGINAL RISK for severe thunderstorms tomorrow for this reason. This low continues to pick up its pace and should be out of our area tomorrow night. Ahead of the cold front, we are still expecting record to near record highs...with the potential of areas that are far enough ahead of that front and maximize sunshine to still hit 90.

We look dry now until the weekend, when general low pressure settles in across the northern Rockies. There is some potential for showers and storms mainly farther north toward the Montana border. The bigger story will be a return to AVERAGE and even BELOW AVERAGE temperatures heading into early next week. We should be back into 60s/near 70 Thursday and mid 60s-mid 70s Friday. Sunday looks to be the coldest day with highs maybe not making it out of the 40s and 50s. We could see pockets of frost or light freeze conditions Friday and Saturday mornings. We should see more widespread freeze conditions Sunday and Monday mornings, with colder spots well down into the 20s once again.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 534 AM MDT Tue May 12 2026

VFR conditions forecast areawide with FEW high clouds and light and variable winds, with the exception of KSUN's diurnal wind shifts. The ridge of high pressure will break down tonight/early Wednesday. Winds will dramatically increase tomorrow and chances for showers and mostly dry thunderstorms return during the afternoon tomorrow.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Wind Advisory from noon to 10 PM MDT Wednesday for IDZ051>057- 067>070-075.