FXUS65 KPIH 091950
AFDPIH

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
150 PM MDT Thu Jul 9 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Heat expected through the weekend with many locations nearing
  or reaching 100 degrees Saturday and Sunday. heat Advisories
  and Excessive Heat Warnings have been issued for many areas. 

- Drier weather returns today through the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 111 PM MDT Thu Jul 9 2026

Main impact will be the heat expected to come. Friday will be
quite hot with highs low to mid 90s lower elevations and 80s
mountains. By Saturday through Monday many low elevation high
temperatures will reach 100 degrees with the mountains in the
80s to lower 90s. Many heat warnings and advisories have been
issued for Saturday and Sunday. Will see some slight cooling at
monsoonal moisture returns Tuesday through Thursday as the upper
ridge pushes east and there is a chance for showers and
thunderstorms returning with the increased moisture. Even though
slightly cooler it remains hot with above normal temperatures in
the Tuesday through Thursday time frame. Low to mid 90s expected
in the lower elevations and still mainly 80s in the mountains. 

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1109 AM MDT Thu Jul 9 2026

Widespread VFR with mainly clear skies through Friday with only
some few to sct mid level clouds. Winds generally under 10 knots
other than some afternoon 10 knots or so at PIH and IDA.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1224 PM MDT Thu Jul 9 2026

Isolated showers and thunderstorms still possible today and
Friday afternoon, but coverage and intensity should be much
lower than previous afternoons as moisture continues to wane.
Any brief shower or thunderstorm could still produce gusty and
erratic winds, but this will be more of an exception than the
rule.

The ridge of high pressure advertised for several days will
establish over the next 24 hours or so, bringing much warmer
temperatures to the area and drier conditions overall. We'll see
temperature climb from near or slightly above average today to
10-15 degrees above average by Saturday and Sunday. RH values
will drop to values firmly in the low teen to single digits each
afternoon. Overnight lows will be much warmer than usual as
well, limiting overnight recovery over the weekend. Winds will
generally be light today and Friday, but begin to increase
Saturday and Sunday. These will be the next critical fire
weather days as fuels continue to dry out and cure from any
recent rain they may have received. 

The ridge generally sticks around into early next week, but we
begin to see monsoonal moisture wrap around the western edge of
the high, bringing precipitable water values back up leading to
better coverage of afternoon showers and thunderstorms, but also
limiting RH minimums.

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory from noon Saturday to 9 PM MDT Sunday for 
IDZ051>055-060>068-070-075.
Extreme Heat Warning from noon Saturday to 9 PM MDT Sunday for 
IDZ056>059.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...GK
AVIATION...GK
FIRE WEATHER...TAX