Flood Watch 4, NWS Pocatello, ID

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
333 AM MST Tue Feb 7 2017

.SHORT TERM...Today and Wednesday. A steady stream of moisture
continues this morning with rain and snow generally south of a
Jerome to Driggs line. This is where most of the precipitation is
occurring, with even some slushy snow down to lowest valleys
floors on occasion. This band starts to lift north later this
morning, and by afternoon is already through eastern Idaho. Some
lingering precipitation mainly closer to the Wyoming border and
also in the Sawtooths. A few showers will also remain possible
elsewhere. Snow levels rise as the warm front and precipitation
band shoots north, and by afternoon in most areas will range in
the 5500-6500ft. They will be a little lower near Island Park and
Monida, but actually closer to 7000ft across the southern
highlands and also for the Sawtooths and Boulders. We almost
forgot to mention, winds ramp up quickly AGAIN today. For winter
headlines, we are extending (AGAIN) the warning for the southeast
corner due to snow and increasing winds through this evening.
Another 5-11" is possible above 6500ft, with a quick drop in
amounts below that. We are going to issue a Winter Weather
Advisory for the higher elevations of the south-central highlands
AND the Magic Valley. For the highlands, this is above 5500ft and
north toward the Lava Beds in the Magic Valley. Those areas will
see a quick additional 3-4 inches before things warm up. For the
Wood River Valley and Sawtooths, another 3-5" is possible IF the
heavier snow reaches that far north. If not, expect about half
that. For the rest of the area, we'll see anywhere from rain/snow
mix with little/no accumulation up to 3", depending on location
and elevation. Precipitation wise, overnight and Wednesday will
mainly have light precipitation across the Sawtooths and eastern
highlands, with a few showers possible elsewhere. Back to the
wind, we are looking at another windy period especially late this
afternoon through the overnight hours. We usually don't see very
strong winds at night but this looks to be the exception. The
pressure gradient tightens along with increasing mid level winds.
We should see enough mixing to keep the winds going well into the
night. The strongest winds will be across the Snake Plain and
mid/upper slopes especially across the southern and eastern
highlands. Sustained winds across the Plain reach 30-35mph with
gusts into the 50s. For those highland areas, 25-35mph sustained
with gusts in the 40s and 50s is forecast. The higher up you go,
the higher the wind. For now, we will issue a Wind Advisory for
the Snake Plain, with the idea that we may need to expand that.
The winds will die down on Wednesday. Keyes

.LONG TERM...Wednesday night through Tuesday night. Not much
difference in the model solutions. A broad upper ridge over the west
will do little to curb precip Wed night thru Thu night as Pac
moisture continues to stream in. The ridge will keep temps up...and
push snow levels up fairly high. Around a foot of snow looks
possible in the upslope prone areas of the central mtns...and
several inches in the eastern highlands by Fri morning. Most above
7000 ft. The rest of the area should see mainly rain. The light at
the end of the tunnel finally arrives by Sunday...as upper ridging
builds into the west coast. The upper ridge is expected to dominate
with dry conditions and mild temps thru Tue night. Hedges

&&

.AVIATION...Another wave moving thru the moist westerly flow today
will result in widespread precip and low cigs thru this aftn.
Conditions are expected to improve later this aftn. Snow this morn
will change over to rain in the valleys...but will stay snow at KSUN
and KDIJ. Winds will become stronger this aftn...and increase during
the eve hours in the wake of the upper trof. Hedges

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch through this evening for IDZ017-021>024.

Wind Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 5 AM MST Wednesday for
IDZ020-021.

Winter Storm Warning until 11 PM MST this evening for IDZ023-025.

Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM MST this morning for IDZ017-
022.

&&

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
932 AM MST TUE FEB 07 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0929 AM     FLOOD            1 SW ACEQUIA            42.66N 113.61W
02/07/2017                   MINIDOKA           ID   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED 8 TO 9 INCHES OF WATER COVERING
            STATE ROUTE 24 BETWEEN ACEQUIA AND RUPERT. THE FLOODING
            IS FROM RAIN AND SNOW MELT.

&&

RSURVICK

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
1118 AM MST TUE FEB 07 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1116 AM     SNOW             3 SSW REXBURG           43.78N 111.80W
02/07/2017  M3.0 INCH        MADISON            ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SNOW FELL AT A RATE OF ONE INCH IN ONE HOUR AND WAS
            CONTINUING HEAVY AT THE TIME OF OBSERVATION.

&&

JMESSICK

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
1128 AM MST TUE FEB 07 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1116 AM     SNOW             3 SSW REXBURG           43.78N 111.80W
02/07/2017  M4.0 INCH        MADISON            ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SNOW FELL AT A RATE IN EXCESS ONE INCH IN ONE HOUR AND
            WAS CONTINUING HEAVY AT THE TIME OF OBSERVATION.

&&

JMESSICK

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
1222 PM MST TUE FEB 07 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1220 PM     SNOW             NNE RIGBY               43.68N 111.91W
02/07/2017  M2.0 INCH        JEFFERSON          ID   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SNOW STARTED AT 0830 MST, STORM TOTAL SO FAR.

&&

JMESSICK

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
1229 PM MST TUE FEB 07 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1200 PM     SNOW             CHUBBUCK                42.92N 112.46W
02/07/2017  M2.5 INCH        BANNOCK            ID   NWS EMPLOYEE

            12-HOUR TOTAL

&&

MH

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
1232 PM MST TUE FEB 07 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1149 AM     SNOW             SHOSHONE                42.94N 114.40W
02/07/2017  E3.0 INCH        LINCOLN            ID   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            12-HOUR TOTAL

&&

MH