Prepare for some wet weather, Boise! Forecasters predict a week of turbulent weather, featuring gusty winds, rainfall, and potential hailstorms.
Les Colin, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Boise, indicated that the likelihood of a thunderstorm affecting the Boise area on Tuesday evening stands at 20 to 30%, while a more significant storm is expected to arrive on Wednesday with nearly a 60% chance.
“It looks like there are going to be thunderstorms that are going to form first in southeast Oregon, and the outflow from those storms could go all the way over to here,” Colin told the Idaho Statesman by phone on Tuesday morning.
Colin anticipates the initial storm to arrive after 5 p.m. on Tuesday and continue until 11 p.m. The meteorologist predicts that the storm on Tuesday is expected to be dry, with high winds and blowing dust reaching speeds of up to 60 mph, but no rain is anticipated.
The National Weather Service forecasts a more impactful storm on Wednesday, featuring rain, strong winds, and the possibility of hail. Colin forecasts that the second storm is set to commence after 2 p.m. and will continue until sunset.
Colin warned that if the thunderstorm shifts its course to directly impact Boise, it may deliver as much as half an inch of rain. Colin indicated that a direct hit is improbable, with Boise anticipated to receive rainfall amounts around 0.1 to 0.2 inches.
Authorities from the National Weather Service are considering the possibility of a flash flood warning for Wednesday. Major concerns arise in regions affected by recent wildfires, leaving behind significant burn scars. Weather Update
Service meteorologist Spencer Tangen highlighted the significant concern surrounding the burn scars left by the Wapiti Fire in the areas near Grandjean and Stanley. Authorities caution those intending to camp or drive in the vicinity to remain vigilant about the dangers posed by debris flow.
Intense wildfires can lead to soil becoming hydrophobic, which means it loses its ability to absorb water, Tangen explained.
“Basically, water just kind of runs off the soil and will wash out a thin layer of dirt that’s developed on top of that burned hydrophobic layer,” Tangen said by phone. “That makes it so that you can get debris flows and flash flooding much easier, because the ground can’t absorb the water.”
A trough, characterised by an extended region of lower atmospheric pressure, is moving in from the Pacific Ocean, leading to the development of stormy weather in Oregon, according to the National Weather Service.
Following Wednesday, expect bright sunshine and warmer-than-usual temperatures for the Treasure Valley.
“The rest of the week, it should be dry and pretty hot, actually,” Colin said. “It will continue to be about 5 to 10 degrees hotter than normal, which would put it close to 90 degrees for highs, similar to what you would expect in the first week or so of July.”
