Severe Thunderstorm Warning 33, NWS Pocatello, ID

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
456 AM MST Wed Dec 17 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Widespread high winds today ahead of and behind cold frontal
  passage. Everyone under a high wind warning or wind advisory.

- Widespread valley rain and mountain snow Wednesday

- Moderate to heavy mountain snow Thursday and Friday

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 145 AM MST Wed Dec 17 2025

Main impact today is going to be extremely high winds which will
likely cause some impacts driving wise as well. Most areas under
a high wind warning and sustained winds near 40 mph are expected
with gusts over 60 mph as well. Winds are due to strong cold
front which will move west to east through eastern Idaho likely
in the 8 to 10 am time frame. High temperatures will likely be
this morning with many low elevations around 50 degrees once
again then expect temperatures to drop this afternoon behind the
cold front. Snow levels start out at 8 thousand feet and drop
rapidly late this morning and early afternoon. Elevations above
7 thousand feet could see up to 6 inches of snow and will have
some difficult travel over passes with extensive blowing snow.
Valleys will see no accumulation as most precipitation will be
over by the time change over to snow occurs. Winds will begin to
diminish after sunset and then rapidly by midnight. It will be
much colder tonight with lows in the teens mountains and 20s
valleys.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 133 PM MST Tue Dec 16 2025

The next round of precipitation will reach central Idaho during
the early hours of Thursday and spread further east during the
afternoon. Temperatures and snow levels will rebound rapidly on
Thursday, with temperatures warming back into the 30s and 40s
across the low to mid- elevations and into the 40s and 50s later
week.

Locations above 7,000 feet will receive another two to three feet of
snow in the central mountains over 48 hours on Thursday and Friday,
including up to around two feet on Galena Summit. Snow levels being
high again, the mountain valleys will receive light to moderate
snow, with 4 to 6 inches forecast for Stanley and Ketchum. While
winds will not be as strong as those anticipated Wednesday, portions
of the region will see 35 to 45 mph gusts. This is not the end of
the snow for our mountains however, with light snow rates forecast
in the high terrain to continue into early next week.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 449 AM MST Wed Dec 17 2025

Winds main impact today. Have sustained 30 to 40 knots at BYI,
IDA and PIH after 15Z through 00Z. MVFR ceilings possible at IDA
with rain at all 3 sites through 18Z. Have MVFR to IFR ceilings
at SUN with rain through 17Z then VFR. 20 knot winds expected
after 17Z with gusts to 30 knots there. At DIJ a period of 30
knot sustained winds after 17Z through 20Z with gusts to 40
knots. Have MVFR ceilings in rain then snow after 17Z as well.
Will be VFR all sites after 00Z with diminishing winds.

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Warning until 5 PM MST this afternoon for IDZ051>058-
062-064>075.
Wind Advisory until 5 PM MST this afternoon for IDZ059>061-063.
Winter Storm Watch from late tonight through late Friday night
for IDZ071>074.

&&

SHORT TERM...GK
LONG TERM...Cropp
AVIATION...GK