textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Fog and low clouds will continue to affect some areas through Thursday, especially during the overnight and morning periods, amid a continued quiet weather pattern for the region.

- A pattern shift is expected by Friday into the weekend with a trough moving through, which could clear out the daily fog and stratus. However, models continue to push back on precip chances into next week.

- Continued dry into next week with a warming trend likely

SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 117 PM MST Wed Jan 21 2026

Wash, rinse and repeat across eastern Idaho with the status quo holding true under the continued influence of high pressure. Things remain dry but the lower elevation stratus will remain the only thing of note to attempt to forecast. Afternoon visible satellite imagery is showing some erosion within the aforementioned stratus layer and ceilings are running 400-700 ft higher than the past few days so we may be making some progress across the region when it comes to eroding this persistent cloud layer. Perhaps some hint of blue skies will reappear in the lower valleys over the next few hours while the high country continues to bask in ample sunshine and warmer temps than those stuck under the stratus field. This will likely hold true into the day tomorrow as well. Unsure as to how much the stratus will reappear during the evening and overnight hours as models have not have much of a handle on this all week. As such, adjusted lower elevation temperatures downwards yet again during the day and upwards a few degrees at night based on what has been occurring over the last few days but confidence overall is lower than desired.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 117 PM MST Wed Jan 21 2026

The extended portion of the forecast remains generally uneventful into early next week with no high-imnpact weather systems expected. A weak impulse moving through the upper flow aloft could bring a low chance for some flurries across the higher terrain of the eastern highlands on Friday but that's about it on the precip front. High pressure will remain in control throughout the weekend and into early next week. This should result in a slight warming trend into the latter part of the weekend and early next week with lower valley temps returning to the upper 30s and lower 40s. THat being said, valley inversions could return, once again, which could wreck havoc on the temperature forecast once again. Overall though, expect quiet weather to continue into the last week of January.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1043 AM MST Wed Jan 21 2026

High pressure remains in control over Eastern Idaho which means most of our TAF sites remain stuck under low stratus once again today with CIGs generally at 900-1500 ft. Though the most recent development has this low fog/stratus pushing up valley into SUN as FZFG at 200 ft. Confidence in conditions remaining so low at SUN is low, and it's split right at the terminal when checking the airport webcams. Will be keeping a close eye on this one through the afternoon, likely give chase to the TAF at times, and overall expect it to improve later tonight as winds become down valley. At BYI, PIH, and IDA the low CIGs remain at borderline MVFR/IFR and will most likely stay that way for the next few hours. Some scattering out of the low clouds seems reasonable again this afternoon/evening before things settle back in for tonight. Conditions have already improved at DIJ, though confidence they will stay improved is low. The low stratus/fog mess looks to continue on Thursday.

AIR QUALITY

Issued at 117 PM MST Wed Jan 21 2026

We have extended the AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY out through Thursday for now. We really haven't seen any movement of poor air across the Pocatello area as well as across the Cache Valley, even with the flow more northerly and no longer directly under the ridge. Looks like this could improve during the day on Friday and into the weekend though with a weak system pushing through the region.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Air Stagnation Advisory until noon MST Thursday for IDZ054-059.