textproduct: Boise

KEY MESSAGES

- Near-record temperatures across south-central Idaho with showers continuing across east-central Oregon and the west- central Idaho mountains today.

- Gusty winds and very dry conditions will bring elevated fire danger along with local blowing dust across southeast Oregon and near the Idaho-Nevada border this afternoon.

- A strong cold front will bring wind gusts to 45 mph overnight and usher in cooler weather for Thursday.

- After a warm and dry weekend, an unsettled weather pattern sets up for next week.

SHORT TERM /Through Friday Night/

Another day in the warm sector will keep temperatures above normal across the region. Increasing clouds ahead of a cold front will take 3-8 degrees off of yesterday's highs across SE Oregon and areas of far SW Idaho. The heat will peak today over s-central Idaho zones where high temperatures will again challenge records for the day in the western Magic Valley. With the surface thermal trough shifting to the east today, surface winds will set up out of NW along the I-84 corridor while elevated terrain mixes out from the southwest this afternoon. Wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph will kick up dust across SE Oregon and SW Idaho south of the Snake Plain, resulting in local reductions in visibility.

Shower development will continue across Baker County and the west-central Idaho mountains through this evening. Amounts will be light and localized with snow levels above 7000 feet MSL limiting any accumulations to higher peaks.

An upper trough advancing on the Pac NW will push a cold front through the region late today/tonight. Wind gust potential is mostly in the 25-45 mph range which could stir up more dust. The strongest winds will be focused in the I-84 corridor from Baker City to Ontario and Mountain Home to Twin/Jerome where an isolated gust to 50 mph is possible.

Thursday is breezy and notably cooler, most so across s-central Idaho zones which see a 25-30 degree drop in the highs from today. Overall temperatures will be about 5 degrees below normal for late March and gusty winds will make it feel even cooler. True to spring form, temperatures will rebound quickly on Friday as the trough exits east and an upper ridge builds over the region. The 10-15 degrees of warming will put highs on Friday back above normal as valleys reach the low-mid 60s.

LONG TERM /Saturday through Wednesday/

The upper-level ridge axis will move further east Saturday, giving way to west/southwest flow aloft ahead of an upper-level trough moving into the Pacific NW. This warm southwesterly flow will strengthen across the west and boost temperatures further, approximately 15-20 degrees above normal both Saturday and Sunday.

Beginning Monday, an unsettled pattern will bring widespread precipitation chances and near-normal temperatures. Models bring the upper-level trough axis onshore by Monday, introducing a cold front and precipitation chances (15-35%) for E Oregon and SW Idaho by late Monday. Surface winds will become gusty ahead and behind the cold front, with a notable drop in temperatures by Tuesday. Precipitation chances, strong winds, and near-normal temperatures look to linger into Wednesday and beyond.

AVIATION /06Z Wednesday through Thursday/

Issued 1159 PM MDT TUE MAR 24 2026 VFR. Scattered rain showers near KBKE/KMYL, with areas of mountain obscuration, continuing through Wednesday. Localized MVFR-IFR conditions during precipitation in mountains. Areas of blowing dust beginning Wednesday afternoon, producing localized MVFR-IFR conditions. Surface winds: SW-SE 5-15 kt overnight. Beginning Wednesday afternoon, W-NW winds 10-20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt. Gusts to 40 kts after 00z/Thu. Winds aloft at 10 kft: W-SW 30-45 kt.

KBOI...VFR. Surface winds SE 5-10 kt, occasionally light and variable. Becoming W-NW 7-12 kt Wednesday afternoon with gusts to 20 kt.

BOI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ID...None.

OR...None.