Snow Squall Warning 1, NWS Pocatello, ID

266 
WWUS55 KPIH 262232
SQWPIH

Snow Squall Warning
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
330 PM MST Fri Feb 26 2021

IDC013-031-067-262300-
/O.CON.KPIH.SQ.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210226T2300Z/
Blaine ID-Cassia ID-Minidoka ID-
330 PM MST Fri Feb 26 2021

...A SNOW SQUALL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM MST FOR
SOUTHERN BLAINE...NORTHWESTERN CASSIA AND SOUTHERN MINIDOKA
COUNTIES...

At 330 PM MST, a dangerous line of snow squalls was located near 
Cold Water Rest Area, or 13 miles southeast of Lake Walcott, moving 
east at 35 mph. This line will impact Interstate 84 from Burley to 
near Yale and Interstate 86 from the Interstate 84/86 split to Raft 
River.

HAZARD...Extremely poor visibility heavy snow and blowing snow. Wind 
         gusts up to around 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar and webcams.

IMPACT...Dangerous life-threatening travel.

The combination of heavy snow and very strong winds will lead to a 
rapid drop in visibility to one-quarter mile or less. Roads may also 
quickly become slick.


Locations impacted include...
Burley, Rupert, Heyburn, Lake Walcott, Paul, Declo, Albion, Acequia,
Yale Rest Area, Idahome and Interstate 84 And 86 Junction.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Consider avoiding or delaying travel until the snow squall passes
your location. If you must travel, use extra caution and allow extra
time. Rapid changes in visibility and slick road conditions may lead
to accidents.

Reduce your speed and turn on headlights! During snow squalls, the
visibility may suddenly drop to near zero in whiteout conditions.

&&

LAT...LON 4239 11407 4251 11407 4253 11393 4272 11393
      4271 11337 4236 11338
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 268DEG 31KT 4255 11319 

$$

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564 
WWUS55 KPIH 262259 RRA
SQWPIH

Snow Squall Warning
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
358 PM MST Fri Feb 26 2021

IDC013-031-067-262308-
/O.EXP.KPIH.SQ.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210226T2300Z/
Blaine ID-Cassia ID-Minidoka ID-
358 PM MST Fri Feb 26 2021

...THE SNOW SQUALL WARNING FOR SOUTHERN BLAINE...NORTHWESTERN CASSIA
AND SOUTHERN MINIDOKA COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 400 PM MST...

The snow squall which prompted the warning was beginning to exit 
the area. Therefore, the snow squall warning will be allowed to 
expire. Difficult driving conditions will remain a threat in the 
previously warned area. 

LAT...LON 4239 11407 4251 11407 4253 11393 4272 11393
      4271 11337 4236 11338
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 268DEG 31KT 4256 11290 

$$

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Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
146 PM MST Fri Feb 26 2021

.SHORT TERM...Tonight through Sunday night. Potential snow squall
incoming for Eastern Magic Valley to the Lower Snake River Plain.
Intense band of snow has moved through the Treasure Valley and is
headed toward the Eastern Magic Valley. We are watching this band
carefully, as it does have a history of very strong wind gusts
and brief heavy snow dropping visibility significantly. Timing
should shift this band through toward Pocatello by 5pm. It is
uncertain how well this band will hold together, and how far north
up I-15 it will extend if it can. High-resolution short term
models maintain the instability necessary for this band to hold
together, but the models all weaken it as it moves east. If it
does continue to hold together, Snow Squall Warnings may be
necessary for the main travel corridors.

Upper trough continues to shift through East Idaho through this
evening, with NAM temporarily closing off the center of the
circulation right over East Idaho late this evening. Snow should
be decreasing in the central mountains this evening, with the
Winter Storm Warning for the Sawtooths and Wood River region north
of Ketchum/Sun Valley expiring early this evening. Winds have been
struggling today with the snowfall, and generally have been below
guidance most of the day. However, tough to drop the Wind Advisory
knowing that gusty winds continue behind the snow band. The
northwest flow behind the main shortwave axis will be enough to
maintain snow into the eastern/southeast highlands through the
overnight, especially aided by weak reinforcing shortwave
overnight tonight. So will keep the combination of Winter Storm
Warning and Winter Weather Advisory going for these areas as well.
There is a question about how much snow will extend into the Snake
Plain/I-15 corridor after midnight, with the NAM being a little
more bullish on this scenario. Consensus however keeps the snow
confined to higher elevations outside the main travel corridors.
There is one more reinforcing shortwave that drops south through
the region Saturday, which again looks to aid snow shower
development over higher terrain. Snow amounts associated with
these features rapidly drop off after tonight, so feel confident
that the headlines wont last into the day Saturday. Upper ridge
folds over though the region Sunday into Sunday night, so cool dry
conditions are expected to round out the weekend. DMH

.LONG TERM...Monday through Friday.  Seasonal conditions are
expected to begin the week with high pressure forecast.  At this
time, the European model solution is dropping a negative tilted
trough through the PacNW Tuesday while the American model solution
keeps the area under relative high pressure. Cluster analysis are
all over the place and it is definitely making the forecast for
Tuesday pretty tough. At least the good news is that either way it
sways, impacts are minimal. The remainder of the work weeks looks
quiet and precip-free for SE ID, look for temperatures to increase
toward the end of the week.
ND

&&

.AVIATION...
Bands of snow will create impacts to pilots today. Strong winds at
the surface with gusts around 40+kts are anticipated through this
evening. Look for improvement in VIS and snow bands exiting the area
around and/or just prior to midnight tonight.
ND

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory until 7 PM MST this evening for IDZ052-054-055-057.

Winter Weather Advisory until 11 PM MST this evening for IDZ053-
056-058-062-066.

Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM MST this evening for IDZ072-073.

Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM MST Saturday for IDZ060-063>065.

&&