Forecasters say the first snow of the season is coming this week

IDAHO FALLS – Snow is on the way.

That’s what the National Weather Service in Pocatello is forecasting.

Lead forecaster Dan Valle tells EastIdahoNews.com the initial snowfall is anticipated late Tuesday night in elevations above 7,000 feet. This includes West Yellowstone, Montana and mountain passes near the Idaho-Montana border. Valle says up to a foot of snow is possible in these areas.

Then on Wednesday night, up to an inch of snow is expected throughout the Snake River Plain. Specific areas of impact include Rexburg, Rigby, Idaho Falls, Blackfoot, Pocatello and surrounding communities.

“Areas down by Soda Springs, Lava Hot Springs could see two to four inches,” Valle says.

This will be the first snowfall of the season, but it is far from the earliest snow on record. Valle points out it had already snowed at least once this same time last year.

The earliest snow on record in eastern Idaho happened in Pocatello on Sept. 16, 1965. Valle says the area got an inch and a half of snow that day. The earliest snowfall for Idaho Falls is hard to say because there are gaps in the weather data.

Current road conditions and a complete 7-day forecast are available here. Additional information and weather data from the NWS is available below.