Snow is in the forecast for Idaho mountains. Will Boise have a white Christmas?
The National Weather Service’s Boise office this week issued a winter weather advisory and winter storm warning for the mountains surrounding the Treasure Valley, calling for more than a foot of snow. But will Boise have a white Christmas, too?
The weather advisory, which is in effect for the Idaho City area and parts of the Owyhees, forecasts 5 to 10 inches of snow in the mountains above 5,000 feet, with up to 18 inches of snow possible at higher elevations. The advisory is in effect through Saturday evening.
The winter storm warning predicts even snowier weather for McCall and Stanley: 10 to 16 inches of snow, with up to 21 inches of snow at higher elevations. The warning is in effect through Friday evening.
Down in the valley, conditions will be noticeably less wintry.
“We’re not expecting heavy snow in the next few days in the valley,” said Stephen Parker, a National Weather Service Boise meteorologist, in a phone interview on Tuesday. “But we have some hope for a white Christmas.”
A cold front Thursday will usher in cooler temperatures, though the high on Friday and Saturday — Christmas Eve and Christmas Day — is expected to reach 40 degrees. Parker said cooler temperatures higher in the atmosphere mean any precipitation will fall as snow. If that snow falls Friday evening, it could stick around on Christmas morning until temperatures warm.
Parker said an “extended cold period” is on the way next week. The forecast for next Tuesday is a high of 31 degrees with overnight lows potentially falling into the teens.
The winter weather advisory urges travelers to use caution, warning that roads will likely be slippery and travel could become difficult.
