907
FXUS65 KPIH 221941
AFDPIH

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
141 PM MDT Wed May 22 2024

.SHORT TERM...Tonight and Thursday
Unsettled weather will continue across the region throughout the
remainder of the day as an upper low centered over eastern WA this
afternoon continues to dip down into the region. Clouds, showers and
some thunderstorms out ahead of the low will continue to impact the
region with the best rain chances expected over the next 12 hours or
so. Winds continue to be quite gusty across the Arco Desert and
Upper Snake Plain where a wind advisory continues until 8PM and a
Lake Wind Advisory continues for the American Falls Reservoir
through that time as well. Convective parameters today aren`t overly
impressive but are certainly supportive of some thunderstorm
potential and maybe some gusty winds and small hail with the
strongest of storms. Temperatures look to get chilly once again
tonight and yet another Frost Advisory is out for the growing
regions of eastern Idaho. Some rural spots may flirt with, or drop
below, the freezing mark for a brief period.

By daybreak Thursday, the low will be centered over eastern Idaho
and we can expect clouds and precip to linger for much of the first
half of the day. As it pushes east throughout the day, we`ll
gradually get a bit more clearing and diminishing PoPs from west to
east across the region. Temperatures will remain well below normal
however throughout the day with most spots in the 50s, 40s in the
eastern highlands, some 15+ degrees below normal for late May.
Another chilly start to the day Friday appears likely with another
frost advisory possible. McKaughan

.LONG TERM...Friday through Wednesday
The first half of Friday looks dry, with a slow increase of
showers and potential thunderstorms. For the Memorial Day Weekend,
Saturday looks the wettest. Rain with accumulating snow possible
above 8000ft is expected. Heading into Sunday, snow levels drop to
6000-7000ft in the morning on the back side of the low.
Additional moisture accumulation will be much lower. Memorial Day
itself looks dry. Valley locations should see light amounts, but
if you are heading to the mountains...look for 0.10-0.40" with a
couple of inches of wet snow on the higher peaks and ridges.
Eventually a ridge builds and shifts east, allowing for moisture
to slowly return through the middle of next week. Keyes


&&

.AVIATION...
We will continue to watch for multiple rounds of showers
and in the next 24 hours. The potential is there for a few
thunderstorms today and under the center of the low tomorrow. We
will also continue with gusty winds outside of any showers and
storms, 20-30kts and peaking 40-45kt is some posts. This is for IDA,
PIH, and BYI.  Gusts should peak at 15-25kts at DIJ, and a bit lower
at SUN. We should overall VFR throughout, with drops to MVFR/IFR if
we get a heavier shower or storm to move over a particular airport.
Keyes

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
River levels continue to quickly drop on the Portneuf River at
Pocatello and the flood warning was cancelled earlier today.
Levels remain elevated near Topaz but should continue to drop over
the week ahead and the flood advisory there was also canceled.

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Frost Advisory from 2 AM to 9 AM MDT Thursday for IDZ051>055.

Wind Advisory until 8 PM MDT this evening for IDZ052-053.

&&

$$