textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Strong winds through this evening. A WIND ADVISORY is in effect for portions of the Snake River Plain. Blowing dust is expected in some areas.

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

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1228 PM MDT Mon Mar 30 2026

Winds continue to ramp up this afternoon central and eastern Idaho. The strongest winds will be across portions of the central mountains and upper end of the Snake Plain, where gusts of 45-55 mph are possible. There is still a 20-60% chance of stronger gusts with the potential for gusts of 60-70 mph. Blowing dust is likely in areas where stronger winds persist and where any recent or ongoing plowing is there. Temperatures are a bit cooler than over the weekend, and certainly will be the warmest out of the next several days...but still running quite a bit above average. We will showers developing through this evening over the northern half of our area. However, with the dry air in place...much of this will be virga except in the highest elevations of the central mountains and eastern highlands. In fact, virga could end up being a factor in strongest wind gusts in some spots this afternoon and evening.

For the rest of this week, we will see cooler temperatures and much wetter conditions. The potential for showers and isolated thunderstorms picks up tomorrow as a weaker low cross the state through Wednesday. Most of the precipitation will fall across the Sawtooths and surrounding ranges, as well as the eastern highlands with this round. We will some light snow above 7500-8000ft. Any real potential for thunder will be across the eastern and southeast highlands, and the South Hills/ALbion Mountains. However, a couple of storms cannot be ruled out elsewhere. We will be back into the 50s and lower 60s tomorrow and Wednesday. The bigger push of colder air and increasing amounts of rain and snow will occur with the main low Thursday into early Friday. The low is strong enough and has enough cold air with it to MAYBE produce some light snow across lowest elevations during the coldest hours during that stretch. That said, any snow that falls below 7000ft won't be sticking around long at all. We will like see some continued potential for isolated thunderstorms until the main storm moves into the Plains. Looking at totals for the entire period, lowest elevations could see 0.10-0.50" through Thursday night. Higher valleys are looking at 0.60-1.0", and the mountains at 1.0-2.0". Probability for over 2.0" of total moisture this week is LOW, but also not zero for the Sawtooths, Bear River Range, and highest elevations around Island Park. Snow accumulations will be minimal below 7000ft, but some decent amounts of snow are possible especially above 8500ft. Again, the caveats here at that this will be over a multi-day period and we are looking showers/storms vs more widespread and steady precipitation at times. Temperatures will be coldest on Thursday, with highs in the 30s and 40s even for lowest elevations.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 517 PM MDT Mon Mar 30 2026

Expect strong winds at PIH, IDA and DIJ to diminish rapidly tonight after 03Z. Generally around 10 knots by then at those three sites. Main impact Tuesday will be a chance for rain showers at all sites. Kept VFR ceiling levels at all TAF sites other than DIJ where have 3 thousand feet 12 to 18Z Tuesday morning. Winds will not be as strong as today on Tuesday but still expect gusts up to 25 knots after 18Z at PIH and IDA.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Wind Advisory until 8 PM MDT this evening for IDZ052-053.