678
FXUS65 KPIH 311958
AFDPIH

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
1258 PM MST Wed Dec 31 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Dry Weather Through This Evening

- Rain and Snow Moves In After Midnight To Ring In 2026

- Temperatures Remain Above Average

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 1257 PM MST Wed Dec 31 2025

Afternoon satellite imagery shows increasing cloud cover spreading
north across the Great Basin. These clouds, and associated moisture,
will move into the region as we move into the new year. Skies remain
mostly at the present but will continue to become more cloud cover
as we move into New Years morning. Hi-res CAMs have slowed down the
onset of precipitation by about 6 hours or so with most models
showing the onset holding off until about 5AM or so. It will move
into the Magic Valley/South Hills first and overspread the rest of
the region throughout the morning hours tomorrow. Surface temps and
atmospheric temperature profiles would suggest a brief period of
snow possible everywhere, or even some very, very isolated freezing
rain, at the onset before quickly changing to a mix and then all
rain as snow levels, and temperatures, quickly rise after sunrise.
Freezing rain potential looks a bit too low to include mention in
the forecast but it`s certainly plausible - but would be very short
duration. By midday, snow levels should have climbed above 5500-6000
ft and increase to around 6000-7500 ft, depending on location, by
late evening. That being said, precipitation amounts are generally
unimpressive with 0.25" or less likely in the valleys with some
amounts closer to half an inch in the higher terrain of the eastern
highlands and the southern third of the forecast area. Snowfall
amounts tomorrow across the higher terrain remain too light to
warrant any winter headlines but a few trouble spots are possible
across some of the higher elevation roadways, namely Emigration
Summit, which will likely see some of the higher snowfall amounts
tomorrow of around 2-5 inches. Temperatures today and tomorrow will
continue to run on the warm side of normal although Thursday may be
a touch cooler than today with more cloud cover and precip in place
to start the new year.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 1257 PM MST Wed Dec 31 2025

Friday will see rain and snow continuing especially early in the day
before dissipating west to east with snow levels 6500 to 7500 feet
through the day.  Eastern highlands will see about a 50 percent
chance of 0.25 inches liquid with the system.  Highs Friday in the
mid 30s to mid 40s mountains and 40s valleys.  Lows Friday night in
the 20s mountains and 30s valleys.  Will dry Friday night with
precipitation returning to central mountains Saturday and spread
east Saturday night into Sunday with widespread rain and snow
Saturday night through Monday.  Snow levels Saturday into Sunday up
around 6500 feet dropping to 5 to 6 thousand feet by Monday.   Highs
Saturday through Monday in the 40s to around 50 valleys and mid 30s
to mid 40s mountains.  Expect generally drier conditions with only a
slight chance of mainly mountain showers Tuesday and Wednesday.  It
will be slightly cooler with snow levels more in the 4 to 5 thousand
foot range.  Highs Tuesday and Wednesday 30s mountains and upper 30s
to mid 40s valleys.  Lows Monday night and Tuesday night dropping
below freezing all locations both days.  Not expecting significant
impacts long term with the high snow levels and the continuation of
Well above normal temperatures even with the slight cooling next
Tuesday and Wednesday.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1020 AM MST Wed Dec 31 2025

Transition day with VFR conditions continuing under light winds
and only scattered high clouds through 06Z tonight. Southerly
flow aloft returns tonight and introduced snow at SUN after 14Z
and continuing through 00Z with MVFR to IFR ceilings. Introduced
vicinity showers at PIH and IDA after 16Z Thursday morning with
a rain and snow mix at BYI with MVFR ceilings after 17Z. Simply
lowered ceilings at DIJ but kept VFR through 18Z Thursday with a
later onset of precipitation after current TAF times.

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...McKaughan
LONG TERM...GK
AVIATION...GK