FXUS65 KPIH 231008
AFDPIH

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
308 AM MST WED DEC 23 2009

.SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
STRATUS AND LIGHT SNOW PERSISTING IN SNAKE RIVER PLAIN. VERY LIGHT
SNOW BUT FAIRLY TYPICAL CONVERGENCE PATTERN WITH NORTHERLY FLOW
FROM 8 TO 12 THOUSAND FEET AND UP VALLEY WINDS. UPPED PRECIPITATION
CHANCES IN SNAKE PLAIN THIS MORNING WITH LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS
AROUND A HALF INCH THROUGH NOON TODAY THEN BACKED OFF THIS
AFTERNOON. GENERALLY WENT CLOSER TO MET GUIDANCE WHICH WAS BETTER
ABLE TO PICK UP THE LIGHT SNOWFALL IN THE SNAKE PLAIN. WENT UP TO
AN INCH IN SOUTHERN AND EASTERN HIGHLANDS AS WELL TODAY. FOG
FORMED THIS MORNING AT HAILEY AND PUT SOME PATCHY FREEZING FOG IN
THAT REGION THIS MORNING. THINK FOG AT IDAHO FALLS ASOS IS
ACTUALLY LIGHT SNOW BASED ON WEB CAMS IN THAT AREA. SNOW HAS
FALLEN CONTINUOUSLY AT PIH LAST 4 HOURS AND ASOS YET TO RECORD IT
IN ANY OBSERVATION. GRADUALLY ERODED STRATUS IN SNAKE PLAIN
OVERNIGHT TONIGHT BUT NOT CONFIDENT IN THAT. COULD PLAY HAVOC
WITH TEMPERATURES AS WELL. EXPECT MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS THURSDAY
THROUGH SATURDAY WITH VERY COLD NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT AS RIDGE
BUILDS TO WEST. TEMPERATURES WILL BE WELL BELOW NORMAL THROUGH THE
ENTIRE SHORT TERM PERIOD. 10 TO 20 MPH UP VALLEY WINDS CONTINUE
TODAY IN SNAKE PLAIN AND WILL DIE DOWN TONIGHT.
GK

.LONG TERM...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. 

COLD AND DRY WEATHER EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE EXTENDED. A 
RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN IN CONTROL ON SUNDAY. A LOW 
PRESSURE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO UNDERCUT THE RIDGE EARLY NEXT WEEK. 
THIS MAY PRODUCE A CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION. HOWEVER IT LOOKS THAT 
THE TRACK OF THE SYSTEM WILL GO WELL SOUTH OF THE AREA AND THAT THE 
HIGH MAY REMAIN IN CONTROL DURING THIS TIME. ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE 
SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON THE COAST BUT NOT UNTIL MID TO LATE 
NEXT WEEK.

&&

.AVIATION...LOW STRATUS AND/OR FOG OVER THE SNAKE PLAIN IS EXPECTED 
TO PERSIST THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY. PERHAPS DURING THE 
AFTERNOON...IT MAY START TO BREAK UP OR AT LEAST LIFT INTO AN MVFR 
DECK. EXPECT LOW STRATUS/FOG TO REDEVELOP AND LOWER ONCE AGAIN THIS 
EVENING IN THE SNAKE PLAIN. EXPECT BRISK CONDITIONS TODAY AS WELL.

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

$$