textproduct: Boise

UPDATE

Updated aviation discussion.

KEY MESSAGES

- Quiet and dry conditions will prevail through the weekend as a high pressure ridge builds over the Intermountain West.

- A Canadian trough will bring precipitation chances to the north, and strong gusty winds Monday through Friday.

SHORT TERM /Through Sunday Night/

Issued 314 AM MST FRI MAR 6 2026 An upper level ridge builds in across the region through the period. A weak shortwave moving around the top of the ridge will introduce some high level cloudiness, but no significant precipitation is expected for the lower elevations. There is a slight chance (20 to 40 percent) of light snow or rain showers over the west central Idaho mountains and near Baker County, Oregon, though accumulations will be minimal.

The warming trend will continue through the weekend. Highs on Saturday will return to around 5 degrees above normal, with Sunday seeing another jump as the ridge axis moves inland. By Sunday afternoon, many valley locations will see temperatures reaching the mid 50s to near 60 degrees. Winds will generally be light under the influence of the ridge, though north to northwest flow may still produce some gusts up to 20 mph in the Magic Valley and across the higher terrain of southeast Oregon during the afternoon hours.

Sunday night will remain dry and mild compared to previous nights, with increasing clouds ahead of a cold front scheduled to arrive early next week. Conditions should remain favorable for any outdoor activities or travel through the end of the period.

LONG TERM /Monday through Friday/

Issued 314 AM MST FRI MAR 6 2026 A broad, polar trough over Canada will advance southward on Monday and establish a strong jet stream across the northern U.S. As the cold airmass encroaches on the forecast area, the intensifying pressure gradient will enhance surface winds area- wide and also increase precipitation chances across northeast Oregon and west- central Idaho. This will support light snowfall for those northern areas as snow levels fall from 3500-4500 feet down to valley floors Monday night and Tuesday. This transition will lower temperatures across southeast Oregon and southwest Idaho by 5-10 degrees for Monday, and an additional 5-10 degrees for Tuesday.

Warmer air will advect in from the west on Wednesday and briefly shift the cold airmass out of the area. While this will raise temperatures and snow levels, persistent moisture and strong westerly flow will maintain precipitation chances for the north and gusty surface winds throughout the day. The milder temperatures on Thursday will cool Thursday night into Friday as a secondary cold front arrives. This will reinforce the wintry pattern and extend precipitation chances (20-40%) farther south into east-central Oregon and much of southwest Idaho. As a result, additional snowfall is possible across the higher terrain, with the potential for light snow at/near valley floors for the north.

AVIATION /18Z Friday through Saturday/

Issued 1046 AM MST FRI MAR 6 2026

Generally VFR today, except MVFR ceilings over the Harney Basin lingering through most of the day. Localized MVFR/IFR conditions in light showers overnight, with snow levels around 4-5 kft MSL tonight increasing to 6-8 kft MSL late tomorrow morning. Surface winds: W-NW 5-15 kt with afternoon gusts to 25 kt, except NW 15-25 kt with gusts to 35 kt from KMUO to KTWF, tapering off to variable less than 10 kt overnight. Winds aloft at 10kft MSL: NW-N 15-30 kt.

KBOI...VFR. Light rain mid to late Sat morning, creating low VFR-MVFR ceilings. Surface winds: NW 10-15 kt with afternoon gusts up to 25 kt, decreasing back to NW 4-7 kt overnight.

Weekend Outlook...LIFR-IFR conditions in patchy valley fog each morning. Low VFR to IFR in rain/snow and low clouds Saturday. Mtn obscuration. Mainly VFR and dry Sunday, except isolated showers over the northern mountains. Snow levels: 4-5kft MSL Sat AM rising to 6-8kft MSL by Sat PM. Surface winds: SW-NW 5-15 kt, afternoon gusts to 20 kt.

BOI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ID...None.

OR...None.