266
FXUS65 KPIH 031154
AFDPIH

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
454 AM MST Tue Mar 3 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Patchy dense fog and resultant reduced visibility could
  impact the morning commute today.

- Mid-Week Warmth: Valley temperatures climb into the mid to upper
  50s by Wednesday before a cooling trend arrives Thursday.

- Mountain Snow: A weather system Wednesday and Thursday will
  bring several inches of snow to the central mountains and
  eastern highlands, primarily above 6,0006,500 feet.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 124 AM MST Tue Mar 3 2026

Early morning satellite shows areas of low stratus and fog
developing in the wake of clearing mid-level and high clouds. Once
low stratus and any fog clears late morning/early afternoon, mostly
clear skies are expected for a brief period, which should allow
daytime temperatures to warm by several more degrees as compared to
yesterday`s highs before high-level clouds begin shifting into
eastern Idaho early this evening ahead of the incoming system. The
current forecast features another several degree warmup during the
day Wednesday for the Snake River Plain and areas further south
ahead of a cooler, wetter, and breezier pattern late week. The
limiting factor will be cloud cover, which may inhibit daytime
warming on Wednesday. The approaching PacNW trough will move onshore
Wednesday with precipitation first reaching central Idaho Wednesday
afternoon/evening and further east during the evening and nighttime
hours. Many valley locations will see a 10 degree, give or take a
few degrees, drop in temperatures on Thursday behind the cold front,
meaning temperatures closer to seasonal norms. Widespread PoPs over
60% will linger through the day Thursday as the trough axis swings
though Nevada and Utah. Storm total snow accumulation through
Thursday or Friday, depending on the location, is generally 3" to 6"
at or above 6,000 feet, with locally higher amounts along the
highest elevations. Light snow, around an inch or two, will be
possible between 5,000 and 6,000 feet. Slight changes to the
temperature and snow level forecasts could mean light snow reaching
valley floors during the overnight hours. Winds will increase
beginning Wednesday and remain breezy through Thursday, especially
in the South Hills region and portions of the eastern Magic Valley,
as well as ridgetops of the central mountains. Gusts in these
regions will range in excess of 45 mph, with the National Blend 24-
hour max wind gust forecast suggesting 45 to 55 mph across the
aforementioned areas on Thursday.

Despite some differences still in how models are handling the upper-
level patten heading into later Friday and the weekend, they all
suggest a transition to drier conditions and a warming trend through
the first part of next week as pressure builds overhead again.
Models then suggest another Pacific trough heading into early to
middle of next week.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 450 AM MST Tue Mar 3 2026

IFR/LIFR CIGs and/or VIS observed early this morning in stratus
and fog at KPIH, KIDA, and KIDA. Improvement expected late
morning with VFR conditions forecast through the remainder of
the period. Expect increasing high clouds later this evening
ahead of the next system arriving tomorrow, with precipitation
reaching KSUN after 18z, just outside of this TAF period.

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Dense Fog Advisory until 11 AM MST this morning for IDZ053-065-
066.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Cropp
AVIATION...Cropp