Wind Advisory 7, NWS Pocatello, ID

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
200 PM MDT Fri Mar 31 2023

.SHORT TERM...Tonight through Saturday night.
Should be relatively quiet early tonight with lingering rain and
snow showers through sunset. Precipitation from the next system
will overspread the region after midnight and winter weather
advisories are in effect for a large portion of the central
mountains and eastern highlands. Generally a 60 to 90 percent
chance of 6 inches in the advisory areas and only a very small
portion at extremely high elevations with a 50 percent chance of a
foot. Most areas at less than 10 percent chance. Snow levels rise
to 5500 feet by Saturday and the Snake Plain and Magic Valley
should see mainly rain until the cold front passes and snow levels
drop to valley floors again Sunday evening. But well under an
inch expected in the valley. Southeast mountains not in advisory
and generally 2 to 4 inches will fall there with locally higher
amounts in Bear River Range. Expect gusty winds with the system
with wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph expected in the advisory area
causing blowing snow with localized 50 mph gusts as well. Ahead of
front highs Saturday will get well into the 40s in the Snake
Plain with mostly 30s in the mountains. Will start to turn much
colder again Sunday night with lows in the central mountains and
Upper Snake highlands back in the low teens and even some single
digits. Cloud cover will keep more southern parts near normal.
GK

.LONG TERM...Sunday through Friday.
Models remain steadfast on their depiction of the forecast for
the upcoming week with a potent upper trough forecast to dig into
the region bringing January-like weather for eastern Idaho to
start the month of April. Sunday will feature continued breezy
conditions across the Upper Snake and into the eastern Highlands
but not quite to the extent that we will see on Saturday. Monday
as the trough digs down, winds will lessen but temperatures will
remain well below normal, and continue through much of the week,
with snow chances in the forecast basically continuously into at
least Wednesday. Precip chances look to begin to taper off a bit
as we get into Thu and more so Friday as models attempt to allow a
ridge of high pressure to build over the area allowing for things
to dry out and warm up. We'll have to see if this materializes in
the end, but confidence is beginning to increase on a warmup for
next weekend and into the following week. Stay tuned. McKaughan

&&

Aviation...Winds remain breezy at KPIH, KIDA and KBYI this
afternoon and this will continue through the evening hours and
taper off a bit overnight but ramp up once again during the day on
Saturday. Afternoon satellite imagery shows a bit of clearing in
the Snake Plain which may allow for some occasional breaks to VFR
cigs at the aforementioned terminals but MVFR will likely continue
for a few more hours before perhaps a reprieve to CIGS closer to
5 kft later in the day and into the evening. KSUN should remain
VFR until overnight when some light snow could push in while KDIJ
will continue to see occasional snow showers that may bring some
occasional MVFR/IFR reductions.

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 6 AM MDT Sunday
for IDZ064>067-071>074.

&&