textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Dry conditions expected through the weekend

- Near record or record highs possible through Monday

- Cooler conditions most of next week with the potential for rain and high mountain snow

DISCUSSION

Issued at 256 AM MDT Fri Mar 27 2026

A ridge of high pressure will build back into the region today. We'll see temperatures climb back into the 60s today with highs reaching the low to mid 70s over the weekend across the Snake River Plain and Magic Valley. Temperatures over the weekend will once again be flirting with record highs. A cold front is still expected to arrive early next week, but the timing is faster. It now looks like that front will arrive late Monday afternoon. Winds are expected to pick up ahead of the front. Looking at a 50% probability of reaching wind advisory criteria across the upper Snake Plain on Sunday and well above 50% for Monday (closer to 70 or 80 percent).

The forecast after the frontal passage has changed somewhat. It still looks cooler with closer to normal temps, perhaps still slightly above normal. But the latest deterministic GFS/ECMWF solutions show precipiation with the frontal passage Monday into Monday Night, then a break on Tuesday, before more precipitation arriving Wednesday into Friday. It will be interesting to see if the models continue down this path as it is a change from previous runs. The precipiation with the frontal passage is looking more like scattered convection and not so widespread. Precipiation amounts of up to 0.25 inches are possible with the front, some upper slopes and ridges could approach 0.50 inches. The next round of precipitation looks more widespread but still light as it falls over 3 days. This would range between 0.25 to 0.50 inches with amounts approaching 0.75 inches on upper slopes and ridges. Snow levels start above 7000 feet with the first system but fall to valley floors. However, the precipitation will likely be gone by the time the colder air reaches southern or eastern Idaho. The central mountains may see a couple inches, and probably not much more. Most of the snow with the second system falls above 6000 feet. Once again, only a few inches of snow is in the forecast, but there is a lot of uncertainty in the precipitation amounts which would drive the snow accumulations.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 256 AM MDT Fri Mar 27 2026

Winds look mainly light as a mix of mid to high level clouds pass through. Winds at SUN should turn from downvalley to upvalley around 18z.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.