Boise, ID – Idaho residents and holiday travelers should prepare for mild, wet, and gusty weather through Christmas Day, followed by a noticeable cooldown heading into the end of the week.
According to the National Weather Service in Boise, unsettled conditions will continue through Thursday (Christmas Day), bringing periods of rain in the valleys and snow in the mountains, along with breezy to windy conditions at times. A cold front is expected to move through Thursday night into early Friday, ushering in cooler temperatures and gradually drier weather.
On Tuesday, forecasters say valley rain will dominate during the morning, while mountain snow falls mainly above 6,000 to 8,000 feet. Conditions are expected to become drier and breezy during the afternoon, with temperatures remaining on the mild side for late December.
Wednesday (Christmas Eve) brings a return of widespread rain and mountain snow, with snow levels remaining relatively high between 6,000 and 8,000 feet. Winds are expected to increase, which could lead to difficult travel in exposed areas and mountain passes.
On Thursday (Christmas Day), scattered showers are expected to continue, but snow levels will begin to lower to around 5,000 to 7,000 feet. Breezy winds will persist, particularly across higher terrain.
By Thursday night into Friday, a cold front will move through the region, allowing cooler air and drying conditions to develop. Snow levels could drop further to around 3,500 to 4,500 feet, with showers tapering off and temperatures turning colder heading into the weekend.
Travelers heading into Idaho’s mountains for the holidays should remain weather-aware, especially with fluctuating snow levels and gusty winds affecting visibility and road conditions. Checking pass conditions and forecasts before departure is strongly advised.
