890
FXUS65 KPIH 292045
AFDPIH

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
145 PM MST Sat Nov 29 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Snow returns this evening and lasts into Sunday afternoon

- Bulk of the precipitation with this round is along the 84/86
  corridor and south into the higher elevations.

- Much colder temperatures remain in place next week with
  another round of snow likely on Tuesday

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 143 PM MST Sat Nov 29 2025

As expected, much colder temps in place this afternoon despite
the ample sunshine for much of the area. Temps are still
running below freezing for most of eastern Idaho with the
exception being parts of the lower Snake Plain and into the
Magic Valley where mid to upper 30s are being observed.
Afternoon satellite shows just some high clouds streaking across
the region but to our northwest across Washington state, seeing
much denser cloud cover in association with an upper level
trough moving into the PacNW and this feature will move over our
area around daybreak tomorrow bringing a quick round of snow to
parts of the region. The biggest change in the forecast appears
to be a slight southward adjustment to the area with best
precip chances and overall snowfall amounts. 12Z HREF and 18Z
HRRR and NAM solutions show the primary area of focus for
snowfall tomorrow has shifted south, generally along and south
of the I-86 corridor and into the far SE corner of the Gem
State. That being said, forecast snow amounts have come down
across much of the I-15 corridor from around Blackfoot north
towards Idaho Falls and into the Rigby and Rexburg areas. Totals
near Pocatello also have come down a touch with only about half
an inch currently in the forecast. As you move from Pocatello
west into the Magic Valley, expecting a solid 1/2 to 1 1/2
inches in the lower elevations with 2-5" likely across the
higher terrain of the South Hills and into the Bear River Range.
This will be a quick moving system with snowfall likely to
begin shortly before sunrise and ending for most during the
early afternoon and should be finished basically everywhere by
the time the sun goes down. Winds are light tomorrow so no
concerns for blowing a drifting snow. Skies should clear out
quickly by Sunday evening and into Monday morning with overnight
lows into the teens for much of eastern Idaho keeping any
freshly fallen snow on the ground for at least a little while.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 143 PM MST Sat Nov 29 2025

The beginning of the extended period begins with a break on
Monday under influence of transitory ridge. The next system
arrives Monday night and lingers through Wednesday morning.
Model means support an additional inch of snowfall at lower
elevations, and 2-4" across the higher elevations south and east
of the interstates. Beyond Wednesday there is still uncertainty
present in the models. Ensemble clusters favor building a ridge
off the coast, with a couple clusters attempting to develop a
rex block over the western states. This should result in a dry
northwest flow over East Idaho. But the deterministic GFS and
ECMWF both flatten the ridge quickly and introduce fast active
flow into the PacNW by the end of the week into the weekend. The
NBM moderates temperatures slightly for Friday and Saturday,
but maintains weakly unsettled flow with continued chances of
showers mainly over higher elevations.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1033 AM MST Sat Nov 29 2025

BYI should transition from MVFR to VFR by early this afternoon,
with all sites remaining VFR with light winds through the
remainder of the day. Next system arrives overnight, bringing
MVFR -SN to most East Idaho terminals after 09Z. DIJ has the
least confidence of -SN making it, but added VCSH given support
from several of the high-res model solutions. CIGS may drop to
occasional IFR with locally heavier SN.

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...McKaughan
LONG TERM...DMH
AVIATION...DMH