Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pocatello, ID

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FXUS65 KPIH 212006
AFDPIH

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
206 PM MDT Thu Mar 21 2024

.SHORT TERM...Tonight through Friday night. Shortwave passing
through East Idaho today, inducing light showers mainly across the
central mountains and northeast corner. Winds have been gusty
across the Snake Plain, with a few observations nudging into the
lower end of Wind Advisory criteria. Temperatures remain mild with
snow levels dropping to approximately 6000 ft across the north
half of the forecast area this evening, trending upwards to around
7000 ft across the southern highlands. Winds expected to dissipate
this evening, with precipitation shifting east into Wyoming.
Transitory upper ridge rebuilds across the region for Friday, but
dry period is short-lived as warm front lifts northeast into SE
Idaho late Friday/Friday night. Expect isolated/scattered showers
to spread north across the forecast area Friday night, mainly
after midnight, leading into more unsettled conditions for the
weekend. DMH

.LONG TERM...Saturday through next Thursday.
Upper flow will turn southwesterly and precipitation chances will
become widespread beginning early Saturday as the main low shifts
onshore into northern CA before rotating further inland. Areas below
5,500 to 6,000 feet elevation will observe precipitation falling as
rain prior to Sunday as temperatures continue to run seasonably warm
and above freezing across much of the CWA. A cold front passage on
Saturday will create breezy westerly sustained winds 20 to 30 mph
and gusts 30 to 40 mph across the Snake Plain and areas further
south. Snow levels will finally drop below valley floors early
Sunday behind the front, allowing for light accumulations in our
lower elevations as precipitable water amounts allow and
temperatures continue to cool early week. The active and wet pattern
will persist through the remainder of the extended period as the
aforementioned trough works across the western U.S. and additional
upper lows track along the U.S./Canadian border and approach the PNW
coast early to middle of next week. EPS and GEFS total accumulated
snowfall for Saturday through Thursday indicate similar totals for
much of SE Idaho although they differ quite dramatically for our
eastern mountains with GEFS indicating amounts almost double that of
EPS in portions of extreme eastern Idaho. Cropp


&&

.AVIATION...
VFR conditions are expected area-wide today and Friday. Breezy winds
up to around 35 kts will remain elevated through late this evening.
Have forecast VCSH only at KDIJ today as showers will likely remain
north of KSUN. Friday will be dry, but cloud cover will increase
during the afternoon and evening ahead of the incoming system on
Saturday. Winds will turn breezy again on Saturday with
precipitation becoming widespread. Cropp


&&

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

$$


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