Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pocatello, ID

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336 FXUS65 KPIH 172230 CCA AFDPIH Area Forecast Discussion...CORRECTED National Weather Service Pocatello ID Issued by National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT 430 PM MDT Mon Jun 17 2024 .SHORT TERM (Through 12Z Wednesday)...
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Unseasonably cold conditions have settled in throughout southeast Idaho behind a powerful cold front. Temperatures have generally been in the 50s for valley locations, roughly 20F cooler than normal. Synoptic forcing will diminish through the evening, with rain and snow tapering off for many locations. Upslope orographic enhancement will bring more rain and snow, especially near the Wyoming border into Tuesday. As conditions clear, temperatures will fall to near or slightly below freezing Tuesday morning for most valley locations. A Frost Advisory remains in effect, with lows ranging from roughly 30-35F, including the Snake River Plain. The longwave trough will lift through Tuesday. Winds will be light through the day. Isolated afternoon rain and mountain snow showers are likely, especially near the Montana and Wyoming border. .LONG TERM (After 12Z Wednesday), Issued 257 AM MDT...We will see a significant transition from the unseasonably cool and unsettled conditions on tap for early this week to much warmer and drier conditions by late week into the weekend. EPS and GEFS ensemble means are in good agreement showing the upper low responsible for the active weather in the short term filling and shifting well northeast of the area by early Wednesday, leaving the region in a weak southwest flow aloft between a remnant weak trough axis along the West Coast and expansive ridging over the Eastern CONUS. The main impacts of this forecast period may come at the onset with another unseasonably cool morning on tap Wednesday morning, although not as cold as the previous night. Still it appears that temperatures may again dip into the mid 30s in parts of the Snake Plain primarily north and east of Pocatello, potentially yielding one more round of frost concerns. Current NBM probabilities show a 40-60% chance of temperatures falling below 36F Wednesday morning in these areas. Beyond Wednesday morning, a notable warming trend will commence under progressively rising heights amid a continued weak southwest flow aloft. High temps will climb 8-10 degrees Wednesday and another 8-10 degrees Thursday, putting values some 5-8 degrees above normals by Thursday, quite the swing from the 20 degree below normal values expected today. This warming trend will continue into the weekend as shortwave ridging amplifies ahead of a system approaching the BC coast, likely pushing lower valley highs into the lower 90s and higher elevations into the 70s and 80s. Current NBM probabilities suggest a roughly 50-70% chance of highs in the Interstate corridor from Burley to Pocatello to Idaho Falls eclipsing the 90F mark by Sunday. WPC cluster analysis shows fairly strong agreement for this pattern, although by early the following week toward the end of this forecast period we start to see some differences emerge with the strength of the upper low skirting east along the Canadian border. About 40% of the cluster membership shows a stronger system, which would support cooler temps toward the end of the period, while the other 60% advertise a weaker system and resultant warmer temps. A stronger system passing to our north would also lead to stronger winds Sunday/Monday. Precipitation chances appear minimal through the long term period, although a few light showers cannot be ruled out with weak shortwave impulses riding through the flow. Friday across the Eastern Highlands currently looks most favorable for any such light shower activity. Overall, a pronounced warming trend and primarily dry conditions will be the theme from mid-week into the weekend. KB
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&& .AVIATION...
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We continue to have showers and possible thunderstorms around and will into this evening. We continue with VCSH, VCTS, or -SHRA VCTS in the TAFs. We should be VFR overall with brief reductions in visibility and/or ceiling with stronger cells that move over a particular airport. Gusty winds will also persist with gusts of 20-35kts through sunset. The only site that could see showers after midnight is DIJ and we have VCSH in the forecast there through mid morning. Keyes
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&& .FIRE WEATHER...
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A steady warming trend will begin Tuesday as a low pressure system weakens and shifts northeast of the area. Cold overnight lows can be expected the next couple of nights, falling into the 30s even at low elevations. Some light precipitation will linger into Tuesday primarily from the Central Mountains east along the Divide into the Eastern Highlands on the backside of the upper low. Dry conditions then return for Wednesday, along with warming temperatures climbing above average by late week. Temperatures continue to climb into next weekend, reaching the low 90s in lower valleys. We may see increasing winds again by late next weekend as a low pressure system passes to the north. KB
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&& .HYDROLOGY...
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Water levels for the Teton River near Driggs remain high with continued lowland flooding. Will continue the river flood warning for the Teton River near Driggs until flooding drops off. Water levels have dropped today and are forecasted to drop even more, down to 3-6 feet, by Wednesday. Much cooler temperatures and a diminishing snowpack are causing river flows to drop off. TW
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&& .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 8 PM MDT this evening for IDZ051>054. Frost Advisory from 2 AM to 9 AM MDT Tuesday for IDZ051>055. && $$