High Wind in Idaho, April 27, 2019

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
255 AM MDT Sat Apr 27 2019

.SHORT TERM...Today through Monday night.

Expecting another brisk day across the area today. Looks like peak
winds will be from the Challis area into the Arco Desert across the
American Falls Reservoir into Pocatello and northward. Although
winds will be less than yesterday, we expect wind advisory or near
advisory conditions in this area today. Blowing dust is possible as
well, possibly affecting I-15 around the Roberts area. The winds are
in response to a strong, but mainly dry cold front that will arrive
tonight from the northwest. Winds will diminish for a time this
evening, but may ramp back up to near advisory levels for a couple
hours overnight as the front passes through the region. Sunday is
noticeably cooler, not quite as windy, with just a few showers across
the high country. On Monday, a low pressure area will develop across
the central Idaho mountains. This will generate another round of
light snow across the central mountains on Monday.

Valle

.LONG TERM...Tuesday through Saturday.

Much of the first half of next week is cool, which should help to
decrease snowmelt and flows on area streams and rivers. Tuesday
morning, lows across much of the Snake Plain into the Magic Valley
could be in the 20s which could be a problem for early season crops.
On Tuesday, the low pressure system will move through east Idaho.
The GFS and European differ significantly with the amount of
precipitation. The forecast favors the wetter GFS which generates
widespread precipitation across the region on Tuesday. Temperatures
look cold enough for snow on all valley floors, especially Tuesday
morning although amounts look relatively light...generally an inch
or less. Wednesday looks mainly dry across the region, maybe some
lingering light precipitation across the high country. Could see
showers and thunderstorms increasing later in the week, towards next
weekend as another low pressure system approaches the coast.

Valle

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.AVIATION...Expect vfr conditions across the region today. Although
gusty winds are likely to develop across many of the TAF locations
this afternoon across the Snake Plain. Winds may diminish for a time
this evening, but could ramp back up again during the overnight
hours.

Valle

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.HYDROLOGY...Above normal temperatures will continue through
Saturday with light to moderate precipitation expected today as a
front pushes east through the region. The models continue to hold
the second storm system north of the region Sunday while a third
system, an upper level low, digs further south into the region
sometime Tuesday for our next rain event. This event could bring
moderate to heavy precipitation, though snow levels look to be low
around 5500 to 6000 feet.

As a result, river levels will continue to run high at least through
Saturday with improving conditions expected Sunday into next week as
a result of much cooler temperatures. A Flood Warning continues for
the Portneuf River at Pocatello. Numerous other gauges have flood
advisories as they continue to run near bankful including the the
Big Wood at Hailey or slightly above bankful to include Blackfoot
River near Henry, Willow Ck above Ririe Res, and the Snake River
near Menan. Flows along the Snake from Palisades Reservoir down to
Burley continue to run high, near bankful, due to releases from the
Palisades reservoir. Wyatt

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.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory from noon today to 10 PM MDT this evening for
IDZ052>054-067>070.

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