textproduct: Pocatello

KEY MESSAGES

- High-Impact Wind Events for Thursday and Saturday, although it will remain breezy other days heading through the weekend

- Light to moderate precipitation through the weekend with any appreciable totals across the Sawtooths and the eastern highlands

- Warmer temperatures return especially heading into next week

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1145 PM MDT Tue Mar 10 2026

Stronger winds will continue through Saturday, as we remain under strong west to northwest flow off the surface. Today looks to be the "lightest" windy day, with gusts 25-35 mph fairly common across central and eastern Idaho. Winds ramp up Thursday as a low skirts by to our north, but helps to increase winds across the area. We have widespread wind gusts of 35-60 mph for later Thursday. There is the potential for gusts up to 70 mph across portions of the Snake Plain and adjacent benches, higher ridgelines in the central mountains, and higher elevations of the South Hills and Albion Mountains. There is a 10-20% chance of even stronger winds (over 70 mph) across the Snake Plain and 30-70% for higher elevations of the central mountains, benches adjacent to the Upper Snake Plain, and around Pomerelle. We issued a HIGH WIND WATCH for Thursday for the Snake Plain and bench areas, Magic Valley, Teton Valley, and the South Hills/Albion Mountains. We will likely see some areas converted to a warning, others to an advisory, and potentially adding some locations across the central mountains where wind headlines are seldomly issued. Winds drop down a bit for Friday, but still some areas with gusts 40-50 mph and another round of potential wind headlines on tap. Another storm clips the Divide Friday night and Saturday, and likely another big ramp up of wind. Current indications that Saturday MAY be as windy or if not a big stronger wind-wise vs Thursday. There is an increase chance of gusts over 60 mph Saturday, 10-20% higher than Thursday, and 5-10% higher chance of gusts over 70 mph. Winds eventually let up as high pressure likely shifts east closer to Idaho next week.

Starting later this afternoon and continuing through next week, some occasional light to moderate precipitation is expected...with the peak periods later today through Sunday. The focus will generally be the higher elevations of the central mountains and eastern highlands. We should see an uptick in high mountain snow tonight and tomorrow and again Friday night and Saturday across the Sawtooths and surrounding ranges, but it looks like minimal impact for Galena or Banner Summits. Highs are already rebounding today through the weekend with highs down low in the 50s and 60s. With high pressure next week, temperatures will rapidly push into the 70s across lower elevations.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 414 AM MDT Wed Mar 11 2026

It will be breezy again today and tonight, but not as strong as Tuesday in many areas. Gusts of 20-30kts are expected at BYI, PIH, IDA, and DIJ. Winds at SUN this afternoon will gust closer to 20kts. Clouds will increase throughout the day. We do expect ceilings to remain VFR. There COULD be enough showers around to warrant PROB30 or VCSH at SUN, but it looks like the bulk of it will remain away from the airport. We do have VCSH at DIJ for this evening and overnight.

PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

High Wind Watch from Thursday morning through Thursday evening for IDZ051>058-062-065.