textproduct: Boise

KEY MESSAGES

- A strong cold front arrives late Wednesday with widespread rain and mountain snow above 6000 feet.

- Gusty winds and much cooler temperatures follow the front on Thursday with gusts up to 45 mph in the Snake Plain.

AVIATION /12Z Tuesday through Wednesday/

Issued 419 AM MST TUE MAR 3 2026

Areas of fog/low stratus this morning resulting in MVFR/LIFR conditions and mtn obscuration. Conditions improving to VFR under increasing high clouds after Tue/16z. Surface winds: light and variable, becoming S-E 5-15 by Tue/PM. Winds aloft at 10kft MSL: Variable 5-15 kt.

KBOI...Fog developing in the vicinity, although low confidence in any impacts at the terminal this morning. Otherwise VFR under increasing high clouds. Surface winds: Becoming SE 5-15 kt.

SHORT TERM /Through Thursday Night/

Issued 303 AM MST TUE MAR 3 2026

Mostly clear skies this morning except for valley fog and low stratus across south- central Idaho and mountain valleys of the central Idaho Mountains. Expect patchy fog from Ontario through the Treasure Valley into the Western Magic Valley during the morning commute. An upper level ridge builds inland from the Pacific on Tuesday, bringing a mostly sunny day. High temperatures will reach the lower 60s in the southern valleys and upper 40s to 50s elsewhere, which is about 5 to 10 degrees above normal and more typical for mid-April.

The next Pacific trough is expected to cross the forecast area on Wednesday bringing brief but widespread precipitation and a strong cold front. Total precipitation through Wednesday night is expected to be between 0.25 and 0.50 inch. Snow levels will stay above 6000 feet for most of the event before dropping behind the front later on Wednesday. About an inch of snow is possible for the Long Valley, with areas above 6000 feet seeing between 3 to 6 inches in the West Central and Boise Mountains. There is a slight chance (20 percent) for lightning to accompany the stronger showers along the front.

Gusty west to northwest winds are likely (70 percent) behind the trough passage on Thursday, with gusts reaching 40 to 50 mph across the Snake Plain and higher terrain. A wind advisory may be needed from Mountain Home through the Western Magic Valley, Camas Prairie, and the southwest highlands Thursday afternoon. Temperatures will drop significantly, settling at or slightly below normal for early March. Northwest flow aloft will maintain a 40 percent chance of precipitation for the mountains through Thursday night.

LONG TERM /Friday through Tuesday/

Issued 303 AM MST TUE MAR 3 2026

Winds will begin to taper down come Friday, but remain gusty in the typical areas of the Snake River Plain (between Boise and Mountain Home). In this area, there is a 30-70% chance of seeing wind gusts of 30+ mph come Friday afternoon. Showers will persist through Friday across terrain as the trough exits our area. A warming trend will set in through Sunday as a closed low sets up near the Baja Peninsula and ridging amplifies over the Pacific. Chances of precipitation will remain elevated (20-40%) across our northern mountain zones due to the polar jet setting up just to our north. Sunday looks to be the warmest day within the period, with temperatures 5-10 degrees above normal despite increasing cloud cover.

Monday into Tuesday, guidance is in good agreement of a cold front making it's way across our area. Moisture availability is questionable with this next system, with moisture being directed over the North Cascades before making it into our area. However, precipitation chances will increase Monday/Tuesday over higher terrain north and east of the Snake River Plain where orographic enhancement will aid in precipitation production. Gusty winds will return Monday/Tuesday with this front, along with temperature cooling to at or a little below normal come Tuesday.

BOI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ID...None. OR...None.