Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pocatello, ID
Issued by NWS Pocatello, ID
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249 FXUS65 KPIH 242358 AFDPIH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pocatello ID 558 PM MDT Fri Apr 24 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Freeze Warning in effect for tonight and Saturday morning. - Mix of rain and snow showers decreases this evening. - A break from precipitation for most on Saturday and Saturday evening. Light precipitation returns late Saturday night and Sunday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 128 PM MDT Fri Apr 24 2026 Satellite imagery shows shortwave dropping south through East Idaho this afternoon, connected to deep upper low centered over southeast Saskatchewan Canada. Area of showers working through mainly the northeast third of the forecast area, with surface wet bulbs supportive of rain/snow mix down to valley floors. Convective instability decreases early evening, allowing showers to diminish for the remainder of the overnight. Snow totals even at elevation will be meager on a whole today, given the spotty nature of the shower activity. The main impact will be tonight with another round of Hard Freeze conditions with overnight lows dropping below 28F across the entirety of the Snake Plain growing region. Have already upgraded the FREEZE WATCH to a FREEZE WARNING for tonight. East Idaho is in between shortwave features on Saturday, keeping most shower activity relegated to higher elevations, and daytime high temperatures should warm slightly despite the sub- freezing lows. The next round of precipitation shifts into the region overnight Saturday night from the south, pulled into the region as the trough extends southwest into California. The highest precipitation amounts should be in the southern and eastern highlands through Sunday night. Snow levels should range between 6000 and 7000 ft elevation, and the Bear River Range could see the highest snow accumulations 3-6". Elsewhere, accumulations are expected to remain minimal. For the work week, expect unsettled conditions to continue, though there is a decreasing trend in precipitation chances beyond Tuesday as the main Canadian low fills and shifts east. Ensemble clusters still having a difficult time resolving pattern later in the week. Overall pattern remains a split flow with low/trough of California coast and ridge in northern stream flow along coast. The differences lie in how amplified the northern stream ridge is as it tries to shift east, and how well the southern stream trough breaks down as it also moves inland. NBM appears to favor East Idaho coming under the influence of the northern stream ridge, with mostly dry conditions in the latter half of the work week, along with temperatures warming back into the mid to upper 60s. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 556 PM MDT Fri Apr 24 2026 VFR conditions forecast for the period. Clouds and showers will continue to clear from west to east this evening with FEW to SCT high clouds areawide by overnight. Winds are still elevated above 15 kts at KPIH and KBYI but will continue to diminish over the next few hours and already have elsewhere. && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Freeze Warning from 9 PM this evening to 10 AM MDT Saturday for IDZ051>055. && $$ DISCUSSION...DMH AVIATION...Cropp