textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Strong to severe thunderstorms with stronger gusts over 60 mph likely through this evening

- Outside of showers and thunderstorms, gusts to 55 mph are expected

- Much colder weather is coming, especially over the weekend and early next week with widespread frost/freeze conditions

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1031 AM MDT Wed May 13 2026

An active weather day is under way. As low pressure approaches from the west, we are seeing increasing winds already and will continue into this evening even behind the front. Outside of storms, we are expecting gusts in some cases up to 55 mph. With thunderstorms gusts in excess of 60 mph are likely with gusts over 65 mph possible. Storms should clear by late evening along with stronger wind subsiding. Otherwise, we remain dry until the weekend. Today is the last widespread WELL ABOVE AVERAGE temperature day we will see for a bit. Ahead of the front, especially where downslope is occurring, we are still looking at potentially hitting 90 degrees. We drop to right around AVERAGE for this part of May, before dropping BELOW AVERAGE over the weekend and early next week. Sunday still looks like the coldest day, especially if we can get a deeper low in place, highs are in the 40s and 50s areawide. Overnight lows and more frost/freeze issues are expected to return. We may see some pockets of frost and light freeze until Saturday morning. Beyond that, several morning of widespread frost and freeze conditions are likely. Monday and Tuesday mornings will be the coldest based on the latest trends in the Blend of Models. We are looking at widespread 20s for overnight lows across portions of the Snake Plain and Magic Valley, with the more populated cities barely hitting freezing.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1027 PM MDT Wed May 13 2026

SHRA/TSRA are done, but BLDU at the KBYI ASOS may be the source of the -RA that keeps getting reported with no accumulation. The sensors may need some cleaning after very strong wind with gusts to near 60 mph and VSBY reduced to 2.5SM in BLDU (reported as HZ or -RA). Wind continues elevated even now; the NBM hourly guidance is carrying it, but the usually more accurate HRRR already has light wind expected. This makes the wind the forecast problem of the evening and overnight. Wind should return in the windy category, bumping up against Wind Advisory levels again (26KT sustained, G39KT) for places like KPIH. Only KSUN and KDIJ appear to be sheltered enough to not see impactful wind.

There is also some occasional marginal VFR this evening that is not in the guidance, so have left it as a risk for KPIH and KIDA for the first few hours in their respective TAFs. The other airdromes are SKC-FEW throughout. KPIH and KIDA return to that condition by 14/12Z. Have also left VSBY unlimited with the lighter wind not carrying BLDU.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.