FXUS65 KPIH 190402 AFDPIH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pocatello ID 1002 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Major warming trend continues with record high temperatures through Friday. - Breezy wind gusts of 25-35 mph each afternoon. - Dry until the weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1248 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026 Another few days of record warmth are ahead of us with temperatures forecast to range 20 to 30 degrees above climatological norms through Friday. The record high temperature for March 18 in Pocatello (71 degrees) has already been broken this afternoon. If forecast highs are achieved at our climate sites today, it will mean March all-time maximum high records will be broken at Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and Burley today with new all-time records achieved Thursday and again on Friday! The National Blend suggests a greater than 90% probability of the eastern Magic Valley reaching 80 degrees on Friday, with an 85% chance for Pocatello, decreasing further north to around 50% to 60% chance in Idaho Falls. Southwest winds will continue to run a bit breezy each afternoon, with gusts around 20 to 30 mph. Heading into the weekend, an area of low pressure further north will flatten the ridge and cool temperatures off by up to 20 degrees between Friday and Sunday. Winds will also increase during the weekend/early next week as flow aloft turns zonal. Precipitation chances will also increase through the middle of next week as the trough drops into the PacNW, although 500 mb clusters suggest some differences in depth and timing of this system. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1002 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026 Expect light winds into Thursday morning. With SUN likely seeing a downvalley wind tonight. Thursday afternoon looks breezy once again at PIH, IDA and DIJ with most models showing still enough wind to support a westerly crosswind at SUN as opposed to the upvalley wind. && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Cropp AVIATION...13