759 FXUS65 KPIH 101939 AFDPIHArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pocatello ID 139 PM MDT Fri Oct 10 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Continued warm today with daytime highs 5 to 10 degrees above normal.
- Precipitation and colder temperatures return this weekend and into early next week!
- 1-3" snowfall anticipated above 6500 ft including passes Saturday night into Sunday.
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.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 138 PM MDT Fri Oct 10 2025
The work week is ending with seasonably warm temperatures which could be the last we see of temperatures in the 70s for quite awhile as a more active, fall-like pattern looks to take hold over the region. Southerly flow continues ahead of an approaching area of low pressure that will bring rain/snow and cooler temperatures to the area beginning tomorrow and continuing into the day Sunday. Afternoon satellite imagery shows gradually increasing clouds across eastern Idaho and these will continue to increase in coverage throughout the evening and into the weekend ahead. Hi-res CAMs show the potential for some showers/storms later this evening and overnight, basically anywhere, but with greater likelihood across the central mountains, along the Montana Divide and into parts of the Upper Snake highlands and into the Teton Valley. Lower chances exist across the Snake Plain and Magic Valley but are certainly not zero. The biggest change in the forecast appears to be for tomorrow where QPF has really dropped across the Snake Plain and Magic Valley zones where the CAMs have backed off from the widespread shower signal and have now shifted the greatest precip generally to the east of the I-15 corridor and into the eastern highlands. We`ll have to see if this trend holds on subsequent hi-res model runs later tonight and overnight. Much colder air will filter into the region tonight with most areas staying in the 50s tomorrow with 40s and 50s likely by Sunday. Will see a changeover to snow at some point Saturday evening across the eastern highlands which will lead to some minor slushy accumulations, especially above 6500 ft or so where we could see 1-3 inches of snow. Overnight lows in some of these areas will likely drop far enough below freezing to create some potential icy travel around Island Park and up on some of the mountain passes across the eastern highlands.
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.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Issued at 138 PM MDT Fri Oct 10 2025
Rain and snow showers will be decreasing as the pattern reloads to our west early next week. With southerly flow ahead of the next split flow/closed low setup, we will see more 60s returning to the forecast. The "driest" day is Monday although a few showers are still possible. The pattern quickly returns to wet and cool by the middle and end parts of next week. Looking at potential for cooler temperatures and the associated issue of snowfall, the colder end of our Blend of Models has highs barely reach 50 in our typical warmer spots by the end of next week. That scenario is certainly possible given a potential track of the closed low is right over eastern Idaho. The days of with highs of 70+ looked to be numbered at the moment, at least in the next several days.
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 1124 AM MDT Fri Oct 10 2025
Occasional showers and thunderstorms are expected, including some nighttime thunder. Conditions will be mostly VFR, although a shower or storm producing heavier rain could easily drop things down to IFR. There are some gusty winds out there outside of any storms, with some reports of 20-35kt winds including gusts. Stronger overall winds should die down this evening, but still remain a bit elevated.
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.FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 311 AM MDT Fri Oct 10 2025
Will see showers and isolated thunderstorms today with showers continuing tonight through Saturday night with wetting rains especially in southern and eastern areas. Much less in Central Idaho regions. Will remain mild today with highs in the 60s and 70s. Will turn much colder tonight and Saturday with below normal temperatures by Sunday. Snow levels will drop to 5500 feet and expect light accumulations above those levels through the weekend. Will see a chance of showers continuing off and on through the middle of next week. Much cooler temperatures will move in Saturday with Sunday the coldest day of the week. Will see slight warming Monday but overall temperatures near or slightly below normal through next week.
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.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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SHORT TERM...McKaughan LONG TERM...Keyes AVIATION...Keyes FIRE WEATHER...GK
NWS PIH Office Area Forecast Discussion