Area forecast discussion National Weather Service Pocatello Idaho 134 PM MDT Wednesday may 22 2013 Short term...tonight through Saturday. The deep upper low over the Pacific northwest will remain in place through Thursday night. By Friday night...models have the upper low lifting NE into British Columbia. Precipitation is expected to mainly fall over the central mountains and eastern Highlands through Thursday night...with isolated showers still possible in the Snake River Plain/eastern Magic Valley. SW winds aloft will keep the southern part of the forecast area on the dry side due to the downslope. Showers and isolated thunderstorms will be most numerous during the late afternoon and evening hours. Precipitation will be confined to the far north Friday and Sat as the upper low lifts to the NE. Temperatures will remain cool again on Thursday...but will moderate Friday and Sat as the upper low loses influence. Temperatures Thursday and Friday morning may fall into the middle 30s in the Snake River Plain/eastern Magic Valley. Hedges Long term...Saturday night through Wednesday. Overall although the GFS and European models differ quite a bit in specific details both showing a somewhat unsettled pattern in the long term. GFS drives through upper troughs Monday and Tuesday while the European leans more toward Sunday and Wednesday. Expect isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms daily but with timing differences still a lot of uncertainty on best periods. GFS drier on Sunday while European driest on Monday. For now kept in the chance daily of convective activity. High temperatures will be right near seasonal normals with 70s in the valleys and 50s and 60s in the mountains. Gk && Aviation...15 to 20 knot sustained winds with gusts 20 to 30 knots have persisted today at byi...pih and Ida and should continue into early evening before dying out with strong gradient behind cold front weakening. Winds at snake plain sites should be more in the 10 to 15 knot range on Thursday. Will have widespread VFR conditions through Thursday with some showers mainly near sun and over mountainous terrain. Gk && Pih watches/warnings/advisories... lake Wind Advisory until 9 PM MDT this evening idz021. && $$