textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Spring Transition: Above-normal temperatures will briefly vanish late this week as a cold upper-level low brings a return of rain, mountain snow, and much cooler air. - Thursday Snow: Snow levels will drop to valley floors by Thursday AM. While significant valley accumulation is unlikely due to warm ground temperatures, the higher terrain could see 6 to 12 inches of snow on the highest peaks and passes.

- Breezy & Raw: Thursday will feel particularly "raw" with highs only in the 30s and 40s accompanied by gusty winds across the Snake Plain and Magic Valley.

- Easter Weekend Outlook: A rapid warming trend begins Saturday, leading to a dry, sunny, and very warm Easter weekend with temperatures potentially reaching the 70s by early next week

DISCUSSION

Issued at 208 AM MDT Wed Apr 1 2026

Eastern Idaho is currently entering a classic springtime roller coaster ride. Expect wet and colder conditions today and, particularly, Thursday. Then, we will transition back to warmer and drier conditions for this weekend into early next week.

Early morning satellite imagery reveals widespread mid-to-high level cloud cover as southwesterly flow aloft transports Pacific moisture into the region. Satellite imagery also shows an upper-level low system approaching the coasts of Washington and Oregon.

Radar is detecting light, scattered precipitation across mainly our southeast areas currently. We expect this activity to become more widespread through the day today. While the environment isn't overly unstable, high-resolution models continue to suggest a low, but non-zero, chance for a few isolated thunderstorms today. While precipitation chances (PoPs) remain high, the total liquid equivalent (QPF) is expected to stay low today due to the showery nature of the system.

The bigger impact is the upper-level low, which will start impacting our western borders early this evening and settle over the area by late Thursday. Cold air will filter into the region with this upper-level low system. This surge of cold air will drive snow levels down to the valley floors of the Snake Plain and Magic Valley. While we expect to see April flakes flying in the valleys, significant accumulations are not anticipated at lower elevations given the recent stretch of warm weather and high ground temperatures.

Snow accumulations will be primarily focused on the higher terrain, specifically above 6,500 feet. Current forecast totals range from 2 to 6 inches for the Stanley Basin, Ketchum, and Island Park areas, with 1 to 3 inches possible across the eastern highlands between 6,000 and 7,000 feet. The most substantial totals will occur above 8,000 feet on mountain peaks and passessuch as Galena and Emigrationwhere 7 to 11 inches are likely, with up to a foot to a foot and half possible on the highest peaks. Winter Weather Advisories will likely be necessary in subsequent shifts to account for travel impacts over mountain passes. Thursday will likely be a "raw" day by all accounts, with breezy winds nearing Wind Advisory levels (35 to 45 mph) and day-time highs struggling to climb out of the 30s and 40s.

The silver lining in this forecast is the brevity of the cold snap. The upper-level low system is expected to shift east into Wyoming by daybreak Friday, allowing a significant warming trend to commence in its wake. While Friday will remain slightly cooler than average with a few lingering mountain showers, an upper-level high pressure ridge will build aggressively over the weekend. This setup will lead to a rapid dry-out and a significant jump in temperatures. Valley highs should return to the 50s and 60s by Saturday, with widespread mid-to-upper 60s for Easter Sunday. This trend continues into the first full week of April, with temperatures climbing into the 70s under ample sunshine.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 505 AM MDT Wed Apr 1 2026

Expect VCSH for all sites today except possibly PIH and IDA as we continue to be in moist southwest flow aloft. The pattern changes with an upper-level low moving into the area this evening on our western borders and moving over our whole area Thursday. Have MVFR CIGS at DIJ currently and they will move back and forth between MVFR and VFR with any showers on station. IDA currently has LIFR CIGS. These CIGS should lift in the next couple of hours. Have winds picking up this afternoon and especially this evening for all sites but KSUN. Showers will pick up by late this afternoon into the evening. Have brought all sites but BYI down to IFR by early this evening as widespread showers moving into the area. Have PROB30 thunderstorms at DIJ and SUN this afternoon as well.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.