textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- Mild and pleasant afternoon highs through early next week.

- Dry conditions continue through the weekend.

- Wetter and cooler conditions return by mid-week next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1236 PM MDT Sat Oct 17 2026

Upper-level ridging remains firmly established across eastern Idaho today, supporting pleasant autumn conditions and above- normal temperatures through the remainder of the weekend and starting off the work week. Highs will remain in the mid-to- upper 60s to lower 70s across the Snake River Plain and Eastern Magic Valley, with light afternoon winds. Meanwhile, an expansive upper-level low is currently digging south along the Pacific Northwest coastline.

As the low drops south off the California coast early next week, southerly flow aloft will gradually tap into Pacific moisture. Deterministic guidance points toward isolated light shower activity returning as early as Tuesday into Wednesday across south-central and eastern Idaho. A more organized, widespread round of precipitation continues to be favored late Thursday through Friday as the upper trough lifts northeast into Nevada and the Great Basin. While ensemble clusters show subtle timing and positional differences regarding the main trough axis, cooler temperatures and increased PoPs remain on track heading into late week.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 929 AM MDT Sat Oct 17 2026

VFR conditions forecast under high pressure and mostly clear skies. Winds will generally remain light outside of afternoon southwest winds up to around 10 kts at KPIH and KIDA, along with upvalley winds at KSUN to around 10 kts. Expect some high- level clouds to increase late tonight before becoming mostly clear again Sunday afternoon.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 236 AM MDT Sat Oct 17 2026

The forecast remains largely unchanged with high pressure in control throughout the weekend, keeping us warm and dry. Min RHs remain quite dry in the Central Mountains, around 20-30 percent and just a bit higher everywhere else, around 25-35 percent. At times, winds will gust around 20 to 25 mph. Highs return to the mid 60s to low 70s area wide. Conditions change next week with isolated showers arriving as early as Tuesday/Wednesday with a more organized push of moisture and cooler temperatures on Thursday/Friday.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.