FXUS65 KPIH 051830 AFDPIH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pocatello ID 1230 PM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Wildfire smoke continues to impact the area on and off for the next few days. Expect decreased air quality at times with air quality advisories in effect. - Warming trend underway for the rest of the week with highs approaching 100 degrees in the lower elevations on Friday. - No precipitation in the forecast for this week, but increasing potential for monsoon moisture to return next week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 157 AM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026 Northwest flow aloft continues today as an area of low pressure in Canada continues to move northeastward and high pressure is allowed to build in along the West Coast. Wildfire smoke continues to filter into Eastern Idaho, though some improvements are expected over the next few days. This ridge will amplify on Thursday and be directly "overhead" on Friday. High pressure remains in control through the weekend. Next Monday, a low begins to move into the western coast of British Columbia to flatten the ridge and move it eastward just a bit. All of this to say, get ready for the heat to return. Highs will be about 5 degrees warmer today than yesterday, meaning we will make it back into the upper 80s to low 90s throughout the Snake River Plain. As we continue to heat up, expect highs to approach triple digits in the eastern Magic Valley as early as Thursday afternoon with the rest of the Snake River Plain following suit on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, the NBM shows a 40 to 50 percent chance of reaching 100 degrees from Burley to Pocatello. That chance is higher out across the Arco Desert area. Chances are very similar on Saturday. By early next week, highs will be a few degrees cooler thanks to the flattening of the ridge, but still in the low to mid 90s for many. This slight pattern chance should bring back some monsoon moisture next week, but specifics of that are still several days away from coming into better focus. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1057 AM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026 Clear skies in place with only impact any smoke visibility restrictions. At 17Z only BYI and SUN at 7 miles and put some 6 miles and only minor visibility restrictions at BYI and SUN both this afternoon. Went with no restrictions tonight and Thursday at all sites. Winds generally increasing to 10 knots in the afternoon at PIH and IDA with some downslope 10 plus knots after 04Z at SUN. So mainly normal diurnal wind variations through tomorrow. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1227 PM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026 Elevated fire weather conditions are anticipated through the first part of next week due to the combination of critical minimum RH values and breezy to gusty winds. While min RH will largely range 10 to 15 percent throughout the period, winds will remain near-critical and fall short of Red Flag criteria for most of the area. Gusts over the next few days will reach 20 to 25 mph with slightly stronger gusts beginning Sunday, which is when we expect pockets of Red Flag conditions to materialize. Temperatures will peak Friday through Sunday as high pressure strengthens over the region, sending daytime highs close to triple digit range for many of our lower elevation areas. Dry conditions will linger for another week or so, but the 6- 10 day, 10-14 day, and weeks 3-4 outlooks are encouraging, all favoring above normal precipitation. && .AIR QUALITY... Issued at 157 AM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026 An air quality alert continues for Caribou, Oneida, Bingham, Bannock and Power Counties due to impacts from wildfire smoke. Air quality is expected to remain "unhealthy for sensitive groups." Another air quality alert has been issued for Cassia, Lincoln and Minidoka Counties through Thursday. Air quality is expected to remain "unhealthy for sensitive groups." && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Air Quality Alert until 1 PM MDT Thursday for IDZ051-055>057. Air Quality Alert until 11 AM MDT Thursday for IDZ052-054-058- 059-062-063. && $$ DISCUSSION...AMM AVIATION...GK FIRE WEATHER...Cropp AIR QUALITY...GK