textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Temperatures will steadily climb through the weekend, with many afternoon highs reaching the 40s and lower 50s by Sunday.

- Light snow is expected in portions of the Central Mountains and Island Park regions through Friday night, though accumulations will remain under 2 inches.

- After a brief relative cooldown Monday and Tuesday, the warming trend returns through the end of the week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 113 PM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

Satellite imagery shows developing ridge over western U.S. with high clouds streaming through the PacNW states ahead of weak shortwave trough. In East Idaho, low stratus and patchy fog is in place late this morning over much of the Snake River Plain and adjacent valley regions, stretching south into the Cache Valley. Rapid clearing of the stratus shield is underway except for the north end of the Snake River Plain and the Marsh, Cache and adjacent valleys in the southern highlands. Models lift weak jet across the top of the ridge tonight through Friday, and it may be enough to produce very light snows across portions of the central mountains and northeast highlands. Greatest accumulations are possible across the Island Park region, where up to 2" of accumulation is possible through Friday. The chance of exceeding 2" is less than 30%, and the chance of seeing anything more than a quick dusting is around or less than 15% anywhere else. The mid and high cloud is expected to inhibit significant redevelopment of the stratus and fog overnight tonight. That said, patchy fog does remain possible overnight throughout lower elevation areas, and NBM means maintain 4-6 mile visibility restrictions overnight, so maintained mention for forecast grids. Upper ridge axis shifts back across East Idaho Friday night.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 113 PM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

Upper ridge axis transitions into East Idaho for the weekend, leading to warming trend across the region. This may come with the caveat of renewed potential for low elevation stratus and fog, which may then dampen temperatures slightly. The NBM means still carry highs in the mid 40s to low 50s by Sunday for most lower elevation areas. Another weak feature tries to top the ridge late Sunday through Monday, with another chance for light snow across higher elevation areas. Once again, the chance for more than an inch or two of accumulation at higher elevations is minimal. The upper ridge axis strengthens once again behind this feature, with continued warming through midweek. The area covered by a greater than 50% probability of temperatures exceeding 50 degrees grows significantly by Thursday, covering a broad swath south of a line from Shoshone to Blackfoot.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 433 PM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

Main impact will be the return of fog and stratus at PIH, DIJ and IDA. Returned IFR conditions by 12Z at IDA and PIH and by 06Z at DIJ where LIFR expected. Improved to VFR at IDA and PIH by 18Z Friday and improved to MVFR at DIJ. Have VFR conditions for the next 24 hours at SUN and BYI. Winds expected to remain light through Friday afternoon.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.