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000
FXUS65 KPIH 180923
AFDPIH

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
323 AM MDT Fri Aug 18 2017

.SHORT TERM...Today through Monday. Upper ridging over the Pac NW
gradually flattens to zonal flow by Saturday. A weak upper low off
the southern CA coast is the potential troublemaker as it pushes
monsoon moisture into the northern Great Basin by Sunday. This
sets the stage for isolated tstms over the southern highlands Sun
aftn and eve. This trend continues again on Mon...but it still
looks like the morning should be free of tstms. Unfortunately...
there is still uncertainly about the cloud cover. Monsoon moisture
is usually accompanied by some degree of mid and high cloudiness.
Current model runs seem to suggest a higher probability of cloud
cover to the north and south of the eclipse track. Although
promising...cloud cover is a tough parameter to pin down in the
short term let alone this far out.

LONG TERM...Tuesday through Friday. Isolated tstms spread to the
central mtns by Tue aftn and eve. More monsoon moisture is pushed
into the fcst area late Wed as a large upper trof moves into the
Pac NW. This increases chances for tstms across the fcst area thru
Fri...mainly late afternoon and evening. Hedges

&&

.AVIATION...Upper ridging and dry air will result in clear skies
and moderately gusty southwest winds in the aftn and early eve.
Hedges

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...High pressure is firmly in place today and will
bring dry and warm conditions through Saturday. Haines Index will
remain high today through Sunday. High pressure starts to break
down later Saturday as a trough moves through. Expect strong wind
gusts of 25 to 30 mph across the Central mountains and 20 to 25
mph across the Eastern Magic valley and Snake River plain. A fire
weather watch is in effect from Saturday at noon until 9 pm mdt
for east Idaho fire weather zones 475 and 476. Though most of
southeast Idaho will have low relative humidity below 15 percent,
Zone 422, where there will be strong winds, looks to have relative
humidity in the 15 to 20 percent range. Winds in all other zones,
though elevated, are currently below critical values. Sunday
expect Southwest flow allowing moisture to creep into the area.
Expect mostly mountain afternoon isolated showers and
thunderstorms Sunday and to a slightly higher degree Monday as
well. The shower and thunderstorm threat increases Tuesday and
beyond. Wyatt

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Fire Weather Watch from Saturday afternoon through Saturday
evening for IDZ475-476.

&&

$$