textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Widespread Hard Freeze: Sub-freezing temperatures are expected again tonight, and Freeze Warnings remain in effect to protect vulnerable early-season vegetation.

- Dry Weekend Transition: High pressure building over the region will ensure dry conditions into early next week.

- Significant Warming Trend: A major warm-up begins Sunday with high pressure amplifying, returning temperatures to the 70s in lower valleys by early next week.

- Mid-Week Active Pattern: A broad Pacific system is progged to move inland late Tuesday into Wednesday, bringing cooler temperatures and increased precipitation chances to Eastern Idaho.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1255 PM MDT Sat Apr 18 2026

Ridge of high pressure will continue to build into East Idaho for the next several days. Despite warming temperature trend, another night of sub-freezing temperatures is on tap tonight, with a FREEZE WARNING remaining in place. Temperatures cold enough to support a Hard Freeze look to be relegated to areas along/north of US-26 tonight. Sunday night the cold temperatures retreat further. A FROST ADVISORY may be needed for a few zones, but temperatures do look to be above freezing. Will hold off on additional headlines for now. Daytime highs continue to climb as well, reaching into the 70s for most lower elevation areas both Monday and Tuesday.

We are still looking at the next system arriving by mid week as a broad Pacific low shifts inland. Precipitation looks to increase across the region by Tuesday night, with the best chances for rainfall and a few thunderstorms on Wednesday. Gusty winds look likely as the system impacts the region late in the week, especially Tuesday and Wednesday. Cooler temperatures arrive as well, but not as cold as the past few days. Snow levels still look to be around 6500 ft, so snow will be relegated to higher elevations. Ensemble clusters have come into better agreement through Wednesday, but diverge for the remainder of the forecast as the trough progresses through the region.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1045 AM MDT Sat Apr 18 2026

We are looking at VFR weather throughout the weekend at this point, with just some passing higher level clouds. Winds should remain under 10kts.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 10 AM MDT Sunday for IDZ051>055.