052
FXUS65 KPIH 160831
AFDPIH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
231 AM MDT MON MAR 16 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- LIGHT RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS IN THE MOUNTAINS REMAIN IN THE
FORECAST TODAY.
- BREEZY WIND GUSTS OF 25-35 MPH CONTINUE EACH AFTERNOON.
- MAJOR WARMING TREND GETS UNDER WAY THIS WEEK WITH INCREASINGLY
LIKELY RECORD-HIGH TEMPERATURES.
DISCUSSION
ISSUED AT 224 AM MDT MON MAR 16 2026
NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT CONTINUES OVER EASTERN IDAHO TODAY, MAINLY
BRINGING CLOUD COVER TO THE AREA, BUT ALSO SOME LIGHT (20-30%)
PRECIPITATION CHANCES TO OUR HIGHER ELEVATIONS IN THE CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS AND EASTERN HIGHLANDS. CHECKING AREA CAMERAS EARLY THIS
MORNING DOES SHOW SOME SNOWFALL UP AROUND STANLEY AND THE WILLOW
CREEK SUMMIT, BUT ROADS REMAIN CLEAR SO FAR. THE NBM IS SHOWING
A COUPLE OF INCHES OF SNOW ABOVE PASS LEVELS, BUT LESS THAN 2"
AT AND BELOW PASS LEVELS IN THESE SPOTS. BREEZY WEST WINDS ARE
BACK AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE STRONGEST SUSTAINED WINDS
AROUND 20 TO 25 MPH AND GUSTS OF 25 TO 35 MPH IN THE EASTERN
MAGIC VALLEY AND LOWER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN. OUR WARMING TREND
BEGINS TODAY WITH HIGHS REACHING THE UPPER 50S TO LOW 60S IN
MUCH OF OUR LOWER ELEVATIONS AREAS AND STAYING IN THE 40S IN OUR
MID AND HIGHER ELEVATION TOWNS.
ON TUESDAY, PRECIPITATION CHANCES DECREASE AS A RIDGE OF HIGH
PRESSURE BUILDS IN OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN US. THIS WILL ALSO KICK OUR
WARMING TREND INTO A HIGHER GEAR AS HIGHS WILL BE ALMOST 10 DEGREES
WARMER THAN THIS AFTERNOON. WITH THIS RIDGE OVERHEAD FOR MOST OF THE
WEEK, WE WILL SEE SOME NEAR RECORD-BREAKING TEMPERATURES AS EARLY AS
TUESDAY AND SEEM TO BE ALMOST CERTAIN TO BREAK RECORD HIGHS ON
WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS AS WE WARM INTO THE 70S
TO EVEN SOME LOW 80S. FOR REFERENCE, RECORD HIGHS FOR IDAHO FALLS,
POCATELLO, AND BURLEY RANGE FROM 69 TO 71, TO 72 RESPECTIVELY. THE
NBM SHOWS A 100 PERCENT CHANCE FOR HIGHS TO EXCEED 70 DEGREES AT ALL
THREE LOCATIONS ON WEDNESDAY AND A 65 TO 95 TO 100 PERCENT OF
EXCEEDING 75 DEGREES AT EACH LOCATION, RESPECTIVELY. THE HIGH
PRESSURE RIDGE REMAINS IN PLACE THROUGH FRIDAY BEFORE BEING FLATTENED
A BIT ON SATURDAY THANKS TO AN APPROACHING LOW OFF THE COAST OF
BRITISH COLUMBIA, BUT THIS PUTS US MORE INTO ZONAL FLOW WITH
MOISTURE APPEARING TO STAY IN NORTHERN AND CENTRAL IDAHO, JUST
OUTSIDE OF OUR FORECAST AREA, FOR THE TIME BEING.
AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/
ISSUED AT 1041 PM MDT SUN MAR 15 2026
THE AREA IS UNDER NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT UNDER OVERALL HIGH
PRESSURE. A WEAK WAVE OF MOISTURE WILL MOVE THE NORTHWEST FLOW
ALOFT BRINGING VERY LITTLE IMPACTS TO OUR TAF SITES. EXPECT VFR
CONDITIONS THROUGH MONDAY MORNING WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF
PRECIPITATION AT DIJ AFTER AROUND 12Z. ONE MODEL SHOWS AROUND
9Z. HAVE VICINITY SHOWERS FOR DIJ AS SOME MOISTURE IN NORTHWEST
FLOW ALOFT SKIRTS EXTREME EASTERN IDAHO. STILL EXPECTING LESS
THAN A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SEEING SHOWERS AT DIJ. ANY SHOWERS
ON STATION AT DIJ COULD PRODUCE BRIEF MVFR CONDITIONS. HAVE NO
PRECIPITATION AT THE OTHER 4 SITES THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HOURS
OTHER THAN SOME MID LEVEL CLOUD COVER. WINDS HAVE BACKED OFF TO
AROUND 10 KNOTS FOR MOST SITES THIS EVENING. WINDS ARE CURRENTLY
CALM AT SUN. WINDS WILL HAVE GUSTS OF AROUND 25 KNOTS FOR PIH
AND BYI BY LATE MORNING TO EARLY TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND GUSTS OF
AROUND 20 KNOTS FOR IDA TOMORROW AFTERNOON. EXPECT WINDS TO
GRADUALLY DROP OFF TOMORROW EVENING AND CLOUDS TO START
CLEARING.
PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
NONE.
DISCUSSION...AMM
AVIATION...TW
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
Main Text Page