595
FXUS65 KPIH 030449
AFDPIH

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
949 PM MST Fri Jan 2 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Rain and Snow Tapers Off This Afternoon and Evening

- Some Fog Expected Tonight and Saturday Morning

- Rain and Snow Returns Later Saturday and Beyond

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 141 PM MST Fri Jan 2 2026

The majority of the rain and snow has come to an end across the
region but still seeing some lingering showers across the far
upper Snake Highlands and eastward towards the Teton Valley. The
Winter Weather Advisories were allowed to expire although some
additional light accumulations remain possible into the first
part of the overnight. The bigger issue tonight will be the fog
potential across the area. Especially from around Blackfoot
north towards Idaho Falls, Rexburg and across the INL and into
the Teton Valley. Added some Dense Fog wording into the grids
based on model guidance and current surface observations.
Confidence was a bit too low to warrant an advisory but it`s
something that could be needed depending on how things play out.
There`s certainly plenty of lower- level moisture in place to
allow this to transpire. We`ll have a little bit of a break from
the precip during the second half of the overnight and for the
first half of the day on Saturday before our next round of
precip pushes into the central mountains during the early
afternoon and eventually the rest of eastern Idaho by Saturday
evening. This will be another surge of Pacific moisture keeping
snow levels above 6500 ft for the most part limiting any
snowfall accumulations to the mountain passes and peaks with
rainfall falling in the lower valleys. Temperatures throughout
the region will remain well above normally, generally around 15
degrees or so.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 141 PM MST Fri Jan 2 2026

Snow levels remain 5500-6500 ft Sunday under influence of mild
air mass ahead of incoming Pacific trough, aligned along the
coast. Periods of valley rain and mountain snow are expected
through Monday before cold front sags through the region late in
the day. This should bring snow levels down to (most) valley
floors overnight Monday night, but most of the precipitation
should be over by then. Unsettled conditions continue through
the week with another system and cold front expected Wednesday.
Temperatures continue to cool through the remainder of next
week, bringing daytime highs to near or even potentially
slightly below normal. Confidence in where and how precipitation
may set up late in the week is low, but temperatures would be
cold enough to support snow to valley floors if it can happen.
So far, the NBM consensus keeps only weak chances of light
precipitation over higher terrain for Thursday and Friday.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 947 PM MST Fri Jan 2 2026

Confidence in IFR/LIFR conditions in BR or FG remains highest at
KIDA, with greater than 40% to 55% chance of LIFR VIS and CIGs
during the morning. VIS has already dropped as low as 2.5M in
BR. There is around a 40% chance of MVFR CIGs at KPIH and KDIJ
with even lower probability at KSUN and KBYI. The next round of
moisture will arrive Saturday afternoon/evening, with VCSH at
KSUN at 19z and further east closer to 00z.

&&

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

&&

$$

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