textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Gusty winds and isolated valley rain/mountain snow showers will rapidly diminish through this evening as a brief period of high pressure moves into the region.

- A weak system arriving Tuesday night into Wednesday will bring light precipitation to the southern and eastern highlands, though liquid totals are expected to remain below 0.10" for most areas.

- Above-normal temperatures persist through the week, with a more significant weather system likely to bring widespread rain and snow chances by the weekend.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 119 PM MST Mon Feb 9 2026

Post-frontal air mass continues to settle into the region this afternoon. Radar imagery depicts a convergence band of showers developing across the Upper Snake River Plain, where temperatures remain warm enough to support primarily rain. Isolated showers persist over higher elevations mainly to the north, but impacts remain negligible. Wind, strongest near Pocatello, should diminish rapidly through the evening as the pressure gradient relaxes. A weak transitory ridge will provide quiet conditions overnight and through Tuesday morning. Overnight lows drop to near or below freezing even at lower elevations.

Conditions shift Tuesday afternoon as a warm front lifts north out of the Great Basin. Precipitation chances increase from south to north through Tuesday night but moisture remains limited. Even at the high end, there is currently less than a 40% chance of liquid totals exceeding 0.10" for the Bear River Range and southern Sawtooths through Tuesday night. The primary upper low tracks south of the region Wednesday, shifting the focus to the southern and eastern highlands. Snow levels will hold between 5500-6500 ft, though they may dip to 5000 ft across northern zones. Given the sparse moisture, total snow accumulations of 2-4" are expected for higher elevations through Wednesday night, with slightly higher amounts possible along the ridgelines of the Big Holes and Bear River Range.

Ensembles have trended slightly slower with the progression of the trough Thursday. This keeps light precipitation in the forecast for the southern and eastern highlands. High pressure briefly returns Friday before a more consolidated shortwave arrives for the weekend. This next system will likely reintroduce widespread precipitation by Saturday. Despite the cooling trend this week compared to last week, afternoon highs will remain 5-10 degrees above seasonal normals for mid- February.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 1031 AM MST Mon Feb 9 2026

Main impact to be winds at BYI, PIH, IDA and DIJ where 20 to 25 knot sustained winds and gusts 25 to 35 knots expected through 00Z. Expect MVFR ceilings to lift at BYI, PIH and IDA by 21Z with continuing at DIJ with intermittent snow and visibilities 2 miles through the afternoon. Should go VFR by 03Z this evening. Expect VFR conditions through Tuesday at all sites once the lower ceilings dissipate today and overnight. Winds diminish quickly after 02Z as well to under 10 knots.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.