High Wind in Idaho, March 30, 2026

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
1228 PM MDT Mon Mar 30 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Strong winds through this evening. A WIND ADVISORY is in
  effect for portions of the Snake River Plain. Blowing dust is
  expected in some areas.

- Cooler conditions most of next week with the potential for
  rain and high mountain snow

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1228 PM MDT Mon Mar 30 2026

Winds continue to ramp up this afternoon central and eastern
Idaho. The strongest winds will be across portions of the
central mountains and upper end of the Snake Plain, where gusts
of 45-55 mph are possible. There is still a 20-60% chance of
stronger gusts with the potential for gusts of 60-70 mph.
Blowing dust is likely in areas where stronger winds persist and
where any recent or ongoing plowing is there. Temperatures are a
bit cooler than over the weekend, and certainly will be the
warmest out of the next several days...but still running quite
a bit above average. We will showers developing through this
evening over the northern half of our area. However, with the
dry air in place...much of this will be virga except in the
highest elevations of the central mountains and eastern
highlands. In fact, virga could end up being a factor in
strongest wind gusts in some spots this afternoon and evening.

For the rest of this week, we will see cooler temperatures and
much wetter conditions. The potential for showers and isolated
thunderstorms picks up tomorrow as a weaker low cross the state
through Wednesday. Most of the precipitation will fall across
the Sawtooths and surrounding ranges, as well as the eastern
highlands with this round. We will some light snow above
7500-8000ft. Any real potential for thunder will be across the
eastern and southeast highlands, and the South Hills/ALbion
Mountains. However, a couple of storms cannot be ruled out
elsewhere. We will be back into the 50s and lower 60s tomorrow
and Wednesday. The bigger push of colder air and increasing
amounts of rain and snow will occur with the main low Thursday
into early Friday. The low is strong enough and has enough cold
air with it to MAYBE produce some light snow across lowest
elevations during the coldest hours during that stretch. That
said, any snow that falls below 7000ft won't be sticking around
long at all. We will like see some continued potential for
isolated thunderstorms until the main storm moves into the
Plains. Looking at totals for the entire period, lowest
elevations could see 0.10-0.50" through Thursday night. Higher
valleys are looking at 0.60-1.0", and the mountains at 1.0-2.0".
Probability for over 2.0" of total moisture this week is LOW,
but also not zero for the Sawtooths, Bear River Range, and
highest elevations around Island Park. Snow accumulations will
be minimal below 7000ft, but some decent amounts of snow are
possible especially above 8500ft. Again, the caveats here at
that this will be over a multi-day period and we are looking
showers/storms vs more widespread and steady precipitation at
times. Temperatures will be coldest on Thursday, with highs in
the 30s and 40s even for lowest elevations.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 1130 AM MDT Mon Mar 30 2026

Cold front sagging south through East Idaho today will bring
gusty winds to several sites. IDA and DIJ expected to see the
highest gusts 35-40kts today, with BYI and PIH slightly lower
25-30kts. Winds decrease this evening below 12kts for all sites.
Front pushes back north late tonight into Tuesday, bringing
deeper moisture, lowered CIGS, and increased chances for SHRA.
Onset of the precipitation could bring CIGS down to MVFR,
particularly for DIJ.

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory until 8 PM MDT this evening for IDZ052-053.

&&

DISCUSSION...Keyes
AVIATION...DMH