630
FXUS65 KPIH 051700
AFDPIH

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
1100 AM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Wildfire smoke continues to impact the area on and off for the
  next few days. Expect decreased air quality at times with air
  quality advisories in effect.

- Warming trend underway for the rest of the week with highs
  approaching 100 degrees in the lower elevations on Friday.

- No precipitation in the forecast for this week, but increasing
  potential for monsoon moisture to return next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 157 AM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

Northwest flow aloft continues today as an area of low pressure in
Canada continues to move northeastward and high pressure is allowed
to build in along the West Coast. Wildfire smoke continues to
filter into Eastern Idaho, though some improvements are expected
over the next few days. This ridge will amplify on
Thursday and be directly "overhead" on Friday. High pressure
remains in control through the weekend. Next Monday, a low
begins to move into the western coast of British Columbia to
flatten the ridge and move it eastward just a bit. All of this
to say, get ready for the heat to return. Highs will be about 5
degrees warmer today than yesterday, meaning we will make it
back into the upper 80s to low 90s throughout the Snake River
Plain. As we continue to heat up, expect highs to approach
triple digits in the eastern Magic Valley as early as Thursday
afternoon with the rest of the Snake River Plain following suit
on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, the NBM shows a 40 to 50
percent chance of reaching 100 degrees from Burley to Pocatello.
That chance is higher out across the Arco Desert area. Chances
are very similar on Saturday. By early next week, highs will be
a few degrees cooler thanks to the flattening of the ridge, but
still in the low to mid 90s for many. This slight pattern chance
should bring back some monsoon moisture next week, but
specifics of that are still several days away from coming into
better focus.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1057 AM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

Clear skies in place with only impact any smoke visibility
restrictions. At 17Z only BYI and SUN at 7 miles and put some 6
miles and only minor visibility restrictions at BYI and SUN both
this afternoon. Went with no restrictions tonight and Thursday
at all sites. Winds generally increasing to 10 knots in the
afternoon at PIH and IDA with some downslope 10 plus knots after
04Z at SUN. So mainly normal diurnal wind variations through
tomorrow.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 157 AM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

High pressure is building in over the West Coast today, keeping us
in northwest flow aloft today. That begins to change Thursday and
especially on Friday when the ridge of high pressure moves directly
over Idaho. This will bring increasing temperatures each afternoon
with Friday, Saturday, and Sunday pushing towards triple digits in
the lower elevations. We continue to stay just below more widespread
critical fire weather conditions today and tomorrow with wind gusts
generally 20 to 25 mph and min RHs of 10 to 15 percent across the
entire area. We are waiting to see increases in wind gusts to issue
any products, which becomes a bit more likely for Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday.

&&

.AIR QUALITY...
Issued at 157 AM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

An air quality alert continues for Caribou, Oneida, Bingham, Bannock
and Power Counties due to impacts from wildfire smoke. Air quality
is expected to remain "unhealthy for sensitive groups." Another air
quality alert has been issued for Cassia, Lincoln and Minidoka
Counties through Thursday. Air quality is expected to remain
"unhealthy for sensitive groups."

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Air Quality Alert until 1 PM MDT Thursday for IDZ051-055>057.
Air Quality Alert until 4 PM MDT this afternoon for IDZ052-054-
058-059-062-063.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...AMM
AVIATION...GK
FIRE WEATHER...AMM
AIR QUALITY...GK