Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Boise, ID
Issued by NWS Boise, ID
480 FXUS65 KBOI 032143 AFDBOI Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Boise ID 243 PM MST Wed Dec 3 2025 .SHORT TERM...Tonight through Friday night...The atmosphere is expected to direct a system up and over the ridge of high pressure to our west beginning mid day Thursday through the remainder of the short term period. Current satellite depicts a broad swath of moisture ahead of this Pacific system, and model data is in good agreement that widespread precipitation is expected. Guidance hints that precipitation will arrive in eastern Oregon by mid day Thursday then into southwest Idaho by mid/late afternoon. Snow levels will initially be near valley floors early in the day, rising to above 5500 feet overnight into early Friday. There exists uncertainty with how long the low level cold pool will remain in place across the Treasure Valley and Weiser Basin. This could push back the changeover from snow to rain in these areas. Guidance suggests a 10% chance of 0.1 inches of snow for the Lower Treasure Valley and a 30% chance of at least 0.5 inches of snow for the Weiser Basin. Current guidance does not include accumulating snow in other lower valley locations, such as the Upper Treasure Valley of Idaho, but the chance of snow falling is above 60%. By early Friday morning all areas below 5500 feet will have transitioned to rain. For the mountain valleys, including the Long Valley of Idaho, guidance suggests a 30% chance of greater than 4 inches of snow late Thursday through the afternoon Friday. Travelers along Highway 55 and Highway 21 in southwest Idaho should be prepared for winter conditions. We will be monitoring for the need to issue a winter weather related advisory for portions of the central mountains of Idaho. .LONG TERM...Saturday through Wednesday...Unsettled conditions will continue through the weekend and into early next week as moisture continues to stream over the top of the Pacific ridge of high pressure. There is strong agreement amongst ensemble model data that two periods of mountain snowfall are possible, one Saturday through Sunday Night, and the second Tuesday into mid week. Snow levels are expected to linger between 4500 and 6000 feet this weekend, before rising to around 7000 feet by Tuesday. Travelers and recreators should anticipate winter-like conditions in the mountains and along mountain roadways during this period. && .AVIATION...Areas of IFR/LIFR fog/low stratus tonight into early Thursday morning, mainly near KBNO, mountain valleys, and north of the Western Magic Valley. Otherwise, VFR conditions. Surface winds: W-NW 5-10 kt, becoming light and variable overnight. Winds aloft at 10kft MSL: N/NW 10-20 kt. KBOI...VFR. A 15% chance of MVFR/IFR fog/low stratus Thursday morning, with a higher chance along the foothills. Surface winds: NW around 5 kt, becoming light and variable overnight. && .BOI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ID...None. OR...None. && $$ www.weather.gov/Boise Interact with us via social media: www.facebook.com/NWSBoise www.x.com/NWSBoise SHORT TERM...MC LONG TERM....MC AVIATION.....CH