textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Dry Weather Through This Evening

- Rain and Snow Moves In After Midnight To Ring In 2026

- Temperatures Remain Above Average

SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 1250 AM MST Wed Dec 31 2025

Dry conditions remain through midnight, long enough to help ring in 2026 on a decent note. Highs will be in the 40s where we can "mix out" today and within any inversion layer...with 30s elsewhere. A few flurries or some light snow is possible beginning just after midnight across the South Hills, Albion Mountains, and southeast highlands. The potential for light snow spreads slowly north by sunrise. Most of any measurable snow would be south of the Snake Plain and Magic Valley, although we could see it moving as far north as Shoshone to Wayan. We will precipitation rapidly spread north on New Year's Day. Snow levels by late evening will be in the 6000-8000ft range, although it appears there will be a pocket of cold air across the far northern end of the Snake Plain...which may allow for light snow or flurries to linger into tomorrow night. The bulk of the moisture with this round should fall across the South Hills/Albion Mountains, southeast and eastern highlands...with some extension of that along the 15/84/86 corridor. Lower elevations should see up to 0.25" of moisture in those areas. Higher elevations should see 0.20-0.50" with amounts approaching 0.75" across higher elevations of the Bear River Range. Those ranges fit nicely with probability forecasts and ranges. Elsewhere, look for anywhere from a couple of hundredths to 0.15" with locally higher amounts across the Sawtooths, where there is a 35-45% chance of more than 0.25". Snowfall amounts are pretty light in most areas. We aren't expecting much accumulation across the Snake Plain and Magic Valley, although with colder air hanging on across portions of the upper end of the Plain...we could see accumulations trying to reach 1". There is a very short window with a pretty low potential of light freezing rain or drizzle here, but not enough to actually put in the forecast. Even if we something like that to occur, any impacts would be pretty limited before it goes to snow and eventually rain. Elsewhere, little to no snow down low with a couple of inches in the mountains are possible. The exception is the Bear River Range where 3-6" is possible, with some impacts possible across Emigration Summit on ID-36.

LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 102 PM MST Tue Dec 30 2025 Will be drier late in day Friday under ridging then southwesterly flow aloft returns with precipitation moving back in on Saturday with at least a chance in the girds Saturday through next Tuesday. Snow levels remain over 6 thousand feet into Saturday then dropping closer to 5 thousand feet Sunday into early next week. Highs Saturday mid to upper 40s valleys and mid 30s to lower 40s mountains. Highs Sunday through Tuesday in the 30s mountains and upper 30s to lower 40s valleys. Lows Friday and Saturday very warm with 20s mountains and 30s valleys with many locations above freezing. Lows Sunday through Tuesday teens to lower 20s mountains and 20s to lower 30s valleys.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1020 AM MST Wed Dec 31 2025

Transition day with VFR conditions continuing under light winds and only scattered high clouds through 06Z tonight. Southerly flow aloft returns tonight and introduced snow at SUN after 14Z and continuing through 00Z with MVFR to IFR ceilings. Introduced vicinity showers at PIH and IDA after 16Z Thursday morning with a rain and snow mix at BYI with MVFR ceilings after 17Z. Simply lowered ceilings at DIJ but kept VFR through 18Z Thursday with a later onset of precipitation after current TAF times.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.