textproduct: Boise

UPDATE

Updated aviation discussion.

KEY MESSAGES

- Mountain snow showers bringing 1-2" of snowfall through this evening

- Wind gusts up to 30-45 mph in open areas and ridges weaken tonight

- Warming and drying trend Friday into early next week

SHORT TERM /Through Saturday Night/

Issued 212 PM MDT THU APR 2 2026 A potent low pressure system moves east today, as gusty winds and showers continue behind last night's cold front. With snow levels 3000-4000 ft MSL, most areas will see snowfall or partially melted flurries, with a 15% chance of thunder and graupel/small hail. Snow showers in mountains will be terrain driven, and could continue to up to 1-2" before dissipating later this afternoon. Due to continued accumulation, the Winter Weather Advisory has been allowed to continue, though the ending time has been made earlier to fall in line with shower dissipation. Post-frontal winds across the area have increased. In most areas, gusts are 20-30 mph, but in the Magic Valley and Camas Prairie, gusts up to 40-45 mph are possible. Thus a Wind Advisory has been issued in these zones, ending this evening as winds come down over night. Temperatures are about 10 degrees below normal today, and will be sub-freezing throughout the region Friday morning.

High pressure will develop over the region tonight into the weekend. The ridge will bring a pronounced drying and warming trend, with temperatures near normal on Friday and 5 degrees above normal Saturday. However, drying conditions will keep morning lows below normal and chilly.

LONG TERM /Sunday through Thursday/

Issued 212 PM MDT THU APR 2 2026 A building upper ridge over the western US will bring a distinct warming and drying trend Sunday. Temperatures will be approximately 15 degrees above average Sunday through Tuesday, with highs in the low-mid 70s common throughout the lower elevations. The first meaningful shot of precipitation will occur late Wednesday into Thursday, as a shortwave trough digs over the Pacific northwest, ahead of a stream of moisture emanating off the California coast. NBM guidance and the official forecast don't quite reflect the potential for rainfall during this period as much as some deterministic models, including the ECMWF-AIFS and AIGFS 12Z runs which show 0.1-0.5" of total QPF. Currently, the probabilities of those amounts occurring are roughly 15%. Regardless, cooler temperatures closer to normal are likely during this period, while winds reflect typical afternoon breeziness.

AVIATION /00Z Friday through Saturday/

Issued 551 PM MDT THU APR 2 2026

Generally VFR. Brief MVFR-IFR conditions in scattered rain-snow showers with gusty winds through Fri/05Z. A stray thunderstorm is possible (10% chance) with these showers. Localized IFR-LIFR in patchy valley fog in sheltered mountain valleys Fri AM. Mountains obscured in fog and precipitation. Surface winds: variable less than 10 kt near KMYL-KBKE, elsewhere W-NW 10-20 kt with gusts 25-35 kt, becoming variable less than 10 kt everywhere after Fri/06Z. Winds aloft at 10kft MSL: W-NW 25-40 kt.

KBOI...Mainly VFR with brief MVFR in scattered rain/snow showers through 05Z with low confidence in thunderstorms this evening. Clearing overnight with low clouds and patchy fog near the foothills. Surface winds: WNW 10-20 with gusts to 25 kt through late evening, then variable less than 6 kt.

Weekend Outlook...Generally VFR with warming and drying conditions this weekend. Localized IFR-LIFR conditions and mountain obscuration each morning with patchy fog in sheltered mountain valleys. Surface winds: SW-SE under 10 kt.

BOI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

ID...Wind Advisory until 9 PM MDT this evening for IDZ016-028-030. OR...None.