723 
FXUS65 KPIH 012109
AFDPIH

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
209 PM MST MON DEC 1 2008

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

LOW CLOUDS PERSISTS ACROSS THE UPPER SNAKE VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON.
A FEW ADDITIONAL BREAKS ARE POSSIBLE ALTHOUGH EXPECT THE CLOUD
COVER TO HAND ON OVER THE NORTHERN SNAKE HIGHLANDS. THE NEXT STORM
SYSTEM WILL MOVE ONTO THE WASHINGTON COAST THIS EVENING AND SPREAD
CLOUD COVER OVER THE ENTIRE AREA LATE TONIGHT. THIS SYSTEM IS VERY
FAST MOVING BUT POTENT. EXPECT PRECIPITATION TO MOVE THROUGH THE
CENTRAL MOUNTAINS DURING THE MORNING AND INTO THE EASTERN AND
SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS BY THE AFTERNOON. DOWNSLOPE EFFECTS WILL LIMIT
PRECIPITATION IN THE VALLEYS. 3 TO 5 INCHES IS POSSIBLE IN
ELEVATIONS ABOVE 7000 FEET...NOTICEABLY LESS BELOW 7000 FEET.
WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY THE AFTERNOON WITH
GUSTS BETWEEN 30-40 MPH POSSIBLE. A WIND ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED
FOR PORTIONS OF THE SNAKE PLAIN TOMORROW AFTERNOON. AFTER THIS
SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPS FILTER IN AND
PRECIPITATION CHANCES BECOME LIMITED TO THE MOUNTAINOUS AREAS
WHERE LINGERING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IS SQUEEZED OUT.

.LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY. 
NORTHWEST FLOW CONTINUES THROUGH FRIDAY.  A WEAK SYSTEM DROPS SOUTH 
THURSDAY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF MOUNTAIN SNOW SHOWERS.  AN UPPER 
RIDGE BUILDS IN FRIDAY AND SATURDAY TO THE WEST AND MODELS DRYING 
OFF SATURDAY CONSIDERABLY WITH RIDGE OVERHEAD.  DROPPED CHANCES OF 
PRECIPITATION SATURDAY. MODELS DROP ANOTHER TROF SOUTH ON SUNDAY 
WITH AN INCREASED CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION.  
GENERALLY EXPECT TEMPERATURES TO REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL THROUGH THE 
PERIOD WITH THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES LIKELY NEXT SUNDAY AND 
MONDAY.
GK

&&

.AVIATION...IFR CONDITIONS HAVE FINALLY ENDED AT IDA AND PIH AND 
EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS TONIGHT.  DO NOT EXPECT STRATUS AND FOG TO 
RETURN TO VALLEYS AS WINDS SHOULD INCREASE OF APPROACHING COLD 
FRONT.  SUN MAY SEE SOME MVFR CONDITIONS IN LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WITH 
APPROACHING PACIFIC SYSTEM BY TUESDAY MORNING.  EXPECT 20 TO 30 MPH 
KNOT WINDS AT BYI...IDA AND PIH TUESDAY AS COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH 
REGION.  
GK

&&

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

$$