


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pocatello, ID
Issued by NWS Pocatello, ID
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755 FXUS65 KPIH 141926 AFDPIH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pocatello ID 126 PM MDT Tue Oct 14 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - More widespread showers with a few thunderstorms lingering into Thursday. - Nearly all snow accumulation will remain above about 7,000 feet, with limited travel impacts possible at a few passes. - Colder temperatures return starting Wednesday. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 105 PM MDT Tue Oct 14 2025 Multiple rounds of showers with a few thunderstorms will continue as low pressure eventually moves across the southeast corner tomorrow night. This morning, we saw snow falling down to almost 6000ft (not accumulating though until you got to 7000ft or higher) in some spots due to heavier bands and also heavier showers and storm. Snow levels looked a bit higher tonight, but feel what the official Blend of Models forecast was too high again. We pushed it back toward the lowest end of the range. For tonight, that puts them around 6500-7500ft across the central mountains and between 7500-9000ft elsewhere. Of note, that still is 500ft or more HIGHER than the actual lowest end of the snow level range we could see. As the low moves across our territory tomorrow night, we pushed snow levels down to around 6500-7000ft. That is still 300-500 HIGHER than the lowest end. Even with lower snow levels, impactful snow below 9000ft doesn`t appear to be a big issue at the moment. Current forecasts only have through tomorrow night anywhere from a Trace to 2" for anywhere above 7500ft, and anything above 6" well above our 9000ft threshold for an advisory or warning. Needless to say, temperatures get much colder again. We should be about 10 degrees colder than today, valleys in the upper 40s to mid 50s. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Issued at 105 PM MDT Tue Oct 14 2025 The day begins Thursday with an upper low centered near the far SE corner of the Gem State. Thursday will remain well below normal temperature wise with 40s and low 50s across the western half of the area with 30s and 40s for our eastern zones (closer to the low). We`ll see precip and clouds begin to taper off from west to east throughout the day but areas along and east of I-15 will have to wait until later in the afternoon or evening before conditions start to improve. Cold temperatures in the eastern highlands will support some accumulating snowfall across the higher terrain (above 7000 ft) on Thursday. By daybreak Friday, upper level troughing will quickly transition to a ridge allowing for a brief warming trend Friday into Sunday with mostly dry conditions and mostly sunny weather through the first part of the day on Sunday. Temperatures will remain on the cooler side of normal Fri and Sat but get closer to seasonal norms by Sunday but that`s when the weather pattern looks to change once again. Models show a potent trough once again moving into the Pacific NW which will bring precip and clouds back into the forecast for eastern Idaho by as early as Sunday afternoon but especially for much of the day Monday and into Tuesday. Along with the precip, we`ll see much colder temperatures once again for Monday and Tuesday with highs running well below normal along with valley rain/mountain snow chances. Could even see some valley precip change over to snow Monday night into Tuesday AM but it`s still unclear how much precip will remain by that point. Either way, an active fall weather pattern is expected to continue across the region into the third week of October. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 1154 AM MDT Tue Oct 14 2025 VFR conditions continue across eastern Idaho this afternoon although expect some occasional issues with showers, maybe a thunderstorms, anywhere and at any time as deep moisture continues to move into the area. The cloud cover and precip will really increase after midnight tonight where a prolonged period of OVC CIGs along with rain and maybe a few thunderstorms is expected throughout the day on Wednesday. As such, VFR conditions will deteriorate with MVFR CIGs becoming increasingly likely for a good chunk of time tomorrow along with prolonged rain. Winds do look to remain light through the period however outside of any thunderstorm wind gusts and/or outflows. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 305 AM MDT Tue Oct 14 2025 No broad fire weather concerns this week as low pressure rotates across the Great Basin. Wetting rains and high elevation snow are likely starting today in the Central Mountains, expanding everywhere tonight and Wednesday. Showers linger Thursday. && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Keyes LONG TERM...McKaughan AVIATION...McKaughan FIRE WEATHER...01