textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Rebuilding ridge of high pressure will likely mean bouts of low clouds and fog at times over the next several days.

- Warming trend will continue through the weekend, with little significant precipitation in sight.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 137 AM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

High pressure is rebounding over the region and with that, we are seeing the return of nighttime/morning stratus. While we expect to gain a few degrees back on our daytime temperatures, cloud cover could inhibit daytime warming. Winds are still currently elevated a bit, which is helping to keep fog localized and visibility impacts less widespread. Winds will continue to subside through early day and while we may break out of the stratus, models show it returning tonight. Otherwise, northwest flow aloft will advect enough moisture over the ridge to likely produce some very light snow showers/flurries across the high terrain this afternoon.

LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 115 PM MST Wed Jan 28 2026

By Friday, the ridge of high pressure is generally back in place over our area leading to mostly dry conditions. The one caveat is that models still show a small chance (20-30%) of some light snow working over top of the ridge and into the Island Park to Driggs area on Friday. This is trending down a bit from yesterday, and it wouldn't be surprising to see that downward trend continue. Even IF we manage to get some light snow out of that on Friday afternoon/evening, snow amounts look mostly likely to remain around an inch or less. We will be beginning a warming trend on Friday with highs reaching the mid 40s in the eastern Magic Valley and lower Snake River Plain with temperatures in the upper Snake River Plain in the mid to upper 30s. Highs will warm by about 3-5 degrees for Saturday, allowing more of us to warm into the 40s and even be pushing the 50s around Oakley and Malta. Sunday looks to be the warmest day of the bunch with a few more 50s popping up and even those that don't hit 50, still reaching the mid to upper 40s. There is a 75 to 90 percent chance of areas between Burley and American Falls reaching 50 degrees on Sunday. That drops to about a 60 to 70 percent chance around Pocatello and a 30 to 50 percent chance from Fort Hall to Firth. At this point, the NBM only gives Idaho Falls about a 10 to 20 percent chance of reaching at least 50 degrees on Sunday. The ridge of high pressure gets pushed eastward as we wrap up the weekend with a shortwave trough moving through Eastern Idaho on Monday. This will bring some more precipitation with it and cool our temperatures a few degrees, but it looks like the ridge will build back in by midweek.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1044 PM MST Wed Jan 28 2026

After the cold front moved through, stratus (low CIGS) has moved back in for PIH, IDA, and DIJ, though there is a hole in the stratus for IDA and DIJ currently. Stratus should fill back in the next couple of hours. Models show high pressure slowly building in from the west this evening into tomorrow morning. Winds will remain slightly elevated early this evening before dropping off overnight into tomorrow morning. Winds really drop off by tomorrow evening. Models show low stratus over all TAF sites except SUN and now BYI. IDA and DIJ look to be the lowest, IFR/LIFR. PIH will likely be IFR. BYI will likely be VFR, though could drop lower. Models do show potential for low stratus to stay all day tomorrow for IDA and DIJ. There is some potential/model guidance for PIH to have CIGS lift to MVFR and possibly VFR by mid to late afternoon tomorrow. This is a scenario/set up where stratus could build back in and stay for multiple days. Models do show winds dropping off and dense fog building in for IDA and DIJ by early evening with IFR/LIFR conditions likely.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.