textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Another Light Freeze: A Freeze Warning remains in effect early Friday AM for the Snake Plain and Arco Desert, primarily impacting rural areas where temperatures could drop into the upper 20s.

- Spring Warm-up: High pressure will amplify through the weekend, pushing temperatures approximately 10 degrees above seasonal normals by Sunday and Monday.

- Predominantly Dry: Aside from a very isolated shower chance near Bear Lake today, dry conditions will prevail through the weekend and likely much of next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 113 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026

Eastern Idaho is currently transitioning into a stable weather pattern dominated by high pressure, promising several pleasant spring days ahead. Afternoon satellite imagery highlights this shift, showing ample sunshine across the region with only some fair-weather cumulus clouds developing over the higher terrain. While the vast majority of the area will remain dry today, a few high-resolution models suggest a low-end chance for a stray, isolated shower this afternoon/evening in the far southeast corner of the state near Bear Lake.

The primary short-term concern is one final cool night before the warming trend begins in earnest. A Freeze Warning is in place for the Snake Plain and Arco Desert for early tomorrow morning. Similar to previous mornings, there will be a notable split between urban and rural environments; urban centers like Idaho Falls and Pocatello are expected to remain at or just above freezing. However, more rural locations within these zones will likely drop into the upper 20s and lower 30s for a few hours, resulting in a light freeze.

Looking ahead, the ridge of high pressure will continue to amplify over the Intermountain West tomorrow, initiating a robust warming trend. This will transition our current near- normal temperatures to roughly 10 degrees above seasonal averages for the weekend and much of next week. Mostly sunny skies and dry weather are expected to persist under this ridge through at least the first half of the weekend.

By late Sunday and into early next week, global models continue to track a low-pressure system moving into coastal California and the southern Great Basin. However, there has been a noticeable southward shift in the consensus of ensembles regarding the placement of this feature. This shift makes it increasingly likely that any associated precipitation will stay well south of our area. While the National Blend of Models currently maintains some low-end chances for precipitation on Monday and Tuesday, these values will likely decrease in future updates if current trends hold. Confidence is growing that a secondary, stronger ridge will build over the Pacific Northwest by mid-to-late next week, potentially keeping Eastern Idaho dry and unseasonably warm through the following weekend.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 606 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026

Skies will have some FEW-SCT overnight, but will become SKC by morning as high pressure dominates. Unlimited VSBY as well, so only some wind shifts are expected. Wind will be lighter on Fri. The direction is a little uncertain, as deterministic and blended guidance was nowhere near what was observed by ASOS/AWOS.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Freeze Warning from 3 AM to 9 AM MDT Friday for IDZ052>054.