One more dry day before snow returns to Idaho!
Ok, we are still on track for a big change from our dry weather pattern to a stormier one beginning Friday.
A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for the Boise and West Central Mountains where snow will begin Friday morning. The Treasure Valley will see snow in the afternoon. A gusty southeast wind in the valley may keep Boise dry well into the afternoon. By Friday evening, any snow that falls in the valley will change to rain. Snow will continue above 3500-4000 feet in central Idaho, with 2"-5" in the valleys and 4"-8" in the ski areas by Saturday morning.
Over the weekend, there will likely be intervals of rain and just cloudy weather for the valley, with periodic snow continuing in the mountains. Saturday is mostly likely to be showery rain in the valley with snow in the central mountains tapering off late in the day. The European (ECMWF) model has heavy snow for Sunday in the mountains with a soaking rain in the valley while the American model (GFS) has drier weather for everyone so there is uncertainty on Sunday.
More storms are forecasted to hit the central mountains with more significant snow into next week. So looking at the overall snow accumulation in the mountains, areas around 5000 feet could see 12"-18" between now and Thursday of next week while above 6000 feet in the ski areas, 2-5 FEET of snow is likely. Due to the uncertainty of the exact location of the atmospheric river and the storms to follow it isn't easy to forecast exact snow totals at this time.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 18. Light and variable wind.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 41. Calm wind.
Thursday Night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 27. Light southeast wind.
Friday
A chance of snow before 11am, then snow changing to rain. High near 39. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch is possible.
Friday Night
Rain. Low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday
Rain. High near 46. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday Night
Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Sunday
Rain likely before 8am, then rain and snow likely between 8am and 11am, then a chance of rain after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night
Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday
A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 45.
Tuesday
Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday
A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
I will keep you updated to keep you safe and informed if you will be traveling at all in the higher elevations!
