textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Winter Weather Advisory ends by noon today. Snow ends by 6 PM this evening.

- High pressure with northwesterly air flow means clear skies but a slow warm up through Monday.

- Temperatures level off Tuesday as the next low arrives for Tuesday night, then a second low arrives for Wednesday night through Friday morning.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 135 AM MDT Fri Apr 3 2026

Today through Sunday night. Snow storm has clear all by the eastern and southeastern highlands as far as the forecast area is concerned. First 18 hours of forecast continues to generate rain and snow over that area through 04/06Z. An upper level ridge builds into the northern Rockies with the axis staying to the west with a sharp SE to NW orientation. This keeps the upper level flow from the northwest through the weekend. On Sun night, the upper level ridge axis is shoved eastward to the ID-OR border, but still staying dry. This upper level ridging keeps skies clear until Sun afternoon, then look for increasing cloudiness Sun night.

So temperatures will warm, but the northwesterly air flow should mean a slow warm up despite the strengthening insolation. By Sun afternoon highs should be 8 to 12 deg F above normal for the time of year. Low temperatures in the Snake River plain will flirt with below freezing both tonight, Sat night, and Sun night, but with a warming trend.

Wind may stay elevated today, but nowhere near the magnitude of yesterday. Expect light, mainly slope-valley wind effect.

Mon through Thu...The next upper level trough makes it onshore in OR and CA at the start of this period. This trough merely flattens the ridge to more westerly flow, leaving little in the way of precipitation for Mon. A second, stronger trough digs south southeastward out of British Columbia, bringing strong wind and precipitation. The wind will be typical spring-style strong with a potential for Advisory criteria, but precipitation has only slight chance of accumulating at lower elevations with low chance PoPs for the Snake River plain and even for places like Stanley. And precipitation does not reach this far south until Wed, so even Tue should be mainly wind.

Temperatures even at 6000ft-7000ft elevation will be warming above freezing every day during the period, so while there will be overnight snow accumulation, it should at least partially melt during the day. Snake River plain overnight lows should mainly stay above freezing. Afternoon highs are cooler, but still staying above normal until perhaps Thu when they will be near normal.

Wind during this extended period should become breezy to windy every afternoon, perhaps very windy on Tue with the second trough.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 512 AM MDT Fri Apr 3 2026

Stratus appears to be the main issue this morning after the strong front passed through yesterday. Wind will stay elevated with only KBYI showing some gusts to 20KT to 25KT. KSUN is showing a reverse of normal wind direction, with downslope/northwest being forced by the exiting low, becoming variable, then late tonight shifting to light southeast with another low approaching from the Pacific and moving through to the north of Idaho.

Marginal VFR CIGs are in and our at KIDA and KPIH during the morning hours, but should stablize by late morning and stay VFR. Right now, even with wind settling down for the tonight period, fog doesn't seem to be favorable tonight. KBYI will be unlimited for CIG and VSBY.

The biggest problem is the continuing SHSN at KDIJ. This will stay around through 03/18Z today, with IFR possible during the morning hours,both due to VSBY and CIG, then improving to marginal VFR as SHSN diminishes by 03/15Z. Here is the one place that looks like marginal VFR CIGs due to stratus re-development may take place.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory until noon MDT today for IDZ060-063- 064-066.