idaho

Summer 2022 Season in Review

Temperatures were above or much above normal across most of the region. Precipitation was below or much below normal across Baker County Oregon and most of southwest Idaho. Only Harney and Malheur Counties, the lower Treasure Valley, and the southwest corner of Owyhee County were wetter than normal due to Pacific storms during the first half of June and monsoon thunderstorms in Harney, Baker, and southwest Owyhee Counties in August. 

June

June 2022 precipitationJune 2022 temperature

The first half of the month was dominated by westerly winds across the North Pacific which brought changeable weather to the northwestern U.S. Weather systems carried inland nearly daily showers from the 4th through the 8th.

On the 5th and 6th an upper level trough weakened as it moved inland, but it retained enough moisture and energy to generate strong thunderstorms across much of southwest Idaho. Hail up to 1.25 inches was reported at a number of locations.  Rainfalls  up to 1.25 inches were also measured. 

On the 10th warm air spreading north from the Great Basin raised temperatures above normal.

On the 12th a deep upper level trough, which had tapped abundant subtropical moisture, pushed inland. The cold front in advance of the trough was followed by a second front as the trough approached. The fronts triggered thunderstorms and heavy showers which dumped over an inch of rain at several locations. In Harney County north of Andrews a Mesonet station at Little McCoy Creek measured 2.23 inches. A Mesonet stations near Featherville in Elmore County measured nearly 3 inches. Local flooding was common around the region.  Wind gusts from 40 mph to around 50 mph were observed at several locations. 

The trough lingered through the 15th, keeping temperatures around 15 degrees below normal. Twin Falls recorded a record low of 37 on the 14th. On the 15th a record low of 26 was set at Burns.

Temperatures quickly rebounded on the 16th under southwest flow aloft ahead of the next trough. 

The cold front ahead of the trough moved into western Idaho late on the 16th. It stalled west of the Magic Valley, and Twin Falls recorded a record high of 94 on the 17th. Behind the front that same day highs were 10-15 degrees cooler.  The front finally exited east of our area late on the 17th, and the trough following the front kept temperatures 5-10 degrees below normal through the 20th.

By the 21st westerly flow aloft along the Canadian border had carried the trough east, allowing temperatures to recover to near normal.

On the 23rd a trough from the Gulf of Alaska had drifted south to southern B.C. and the Idaho panhandle. The cold front crossed the Boise area that afternoon, resulting in below-normal temperatures on the 24th and 25th. A record low of 41 was set at Twin Falls on the 25th.  

The trough rapidly exited eastward across southern Canada , allowing a very warm high amplitude ridge to build over the Intermountain Region, and the first really hot weather of the summer ensued. Highs from the mid 90s to a few degrees over 100 were common at lower elevations from the 26th through the 28th. 

A weak upper level trough moved over the area on the 29th, lowering  temperatures to near normal through the 30th.

July

July 2022 precipitation July 2022 temperature

On the 1st and 2nd a weak upper-level ridge and southwest flow aloft supported highs 5-10 degrees above normal.

On the 3rd an upper-level trough, which had been centered over Vancouver Island, began to edge inland. Cooler Pacific air associated with the trough lowered temperatures to near normal on the 3rd and below normal on the 4th.  Following the cold front on the 3rd, a wind gust of 67 mph at the Boise Airport knocked out power to the NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center).

Blocked by the ridge, the trough retreated back offshore on the 5th, allowing highs to rebound from the 5th through the 9th.

The trough moved back inland on the 9th, weakening as it encountered the strengthening ridge. The trough retained enough energy to spark thunderstorms. One storm produced three-quarter inch hail at Council. 

The ridge continued to strengthen and expand, and by the 12th it covered all of the western and south-central contiguous states.  Highs reached or exceeded 100 at lower elevations each day from the 12th through the 17th. 

A downburst from a thunderstorm at Burns on the 12th generated a wind gust of 67 mph. 

Meanwhile, another trough had migrated from the Aleutians across the Gulf of Alaska before crossing Washington and northern Idaho on the 18th. Cool air filtering south prevented temperatures from rising above 90 at most locations.

The trough continued on its eastward trek, allowing the ridge to expand northward again. Highs reached or surpassed 100 on the 20th in the lower valleys. 

Highs were around 5 degrees cooler from the 22nd through the 25th under the influence of a weak trough.

A new ridge developed off the coast and began to work its way inland on the 26th, resulting in another series of 100+ highs from the 26th through the 31st. 

Date       Location         Record high
7/17       Burns            100
           Twin Falls       100 tied record set in 2010
7/25       Burns             98 tied record set in 2021
7/26       Burns            102
7/27       Burns            101 tied record set in 1939
           Ontario          107 tied record set in 1964
7/28       Burns            103
           Ontario          109 
7/29       Boise            104 tied record set in 1934 
           Burns            103
           McCall            95 tied record set in 1994
           Ontario          111 national high!
7/30       Burns            103 tied record set in 2003
           McCall            96
           Baker            101 tied record set in 2003
7/31       Burns            104
           Ontario          102

 

On the 31st at Baker a thunderstorm downburst produced a gust of 62 mph. 

August

August 2022 precipitation August 2022 temperatures

A persistent upper level high pressure ridge was responsible for the record-setting heat.  On the 2nd as a Pacific cold front trailing south from Canada lowered highs by 10-15 degrees.  Temperatures rebounded on the 3rd and 4th ahead of the next Pacific cold front. That front passed on the 5th and lowered highs a few degrees on the 5th and 6th.

Warmer air returned on the 7th, and on the 8th highs exceeded 100 in the lower valleys.

On the 9th the ridge was centered over Wyoming and Colorado. Southerly flow between the ridge and an upper level low pressure center off the northern California coast began to pull monsoon moisture north over our area, resulting in scattered  thunderstorms from the 10th through the 12th. 

On the 10th there were reports of thunderstorm outflow gusts to around 60 mph in Malheur and Owyhee Counties. Heavy rain on the slopes of the Owyhee Mountains caused Rabbit Creek near Murphy to flood, with water over roads in places. A trained spotter at Murphy measured .78 of an inch of rain in 40 minutes. A spotter four miles southwest of Murphy measured 1.2 inches. 

On the 11th hail .5 to 1.5 inches in diameter fell at several locations in Canyon, Payette, and Owyhee Counties. On the 12th a trained spotter reported 1.5 inch hail at Oxbow Dam in Baker County, and a spotter at Yellow Pine reported 1.75 inch hail. 

On the 13th the low pressure center finally moved inland over southwest Canada. This allowed the upper level flow to shift into the southwest, bringing much drier air. 

From the 14th through the 24th highs in the valleys ranged from mid 90s to just over 100.

Monsoon moisture returned late in the day on the 18th as a weak low pressure trough approached from northern California. No unusual rainfalls were reported from thunderstorms on the 19th, but reports on social media described trees and power lines knocked down two miles northwest of McCall. The strongest gust measured at McCall airport was 45 mph. 

The heat persisted through the 26th.

By the 27th the upper level ridge center had relocated westward between Alaska and Hawaii, so flow across the North Pacific was no longer blocked from entering the northwest U.S. On the 27th a dry cold front crossed our area, resulting in a very pleasant weekend with highs near normal on the 27th and 28th.

On the 29th the upper level ridge over the Intermountain Region was already rebuilding, and temperatures were on their way up again.   The 106 at Boise on the 31st was the warmest ever so late in the season. 

 

Date         Location                 Record high
8/1          Burns                    100 tied record set in 2015
             McCall                    94
             Ontario                  109
8/13         Twin Falls                96
8/17         Boise                    103
             Burns                    103
             McCall                    97
             Twin Falls                99
             Baker                     99 tied record set in 2020
8/29         Burns                     95 tied record set in 2017
8/31         Boise                    106
             Burns                    101
             McCall                    95
             Ontario                  102
             Mountain Home            104
             Jerome                    99 tied record set in 1916
             Twin Falls               101
             Baker                    102             

Spring 2022 Season in Review

For the three-month period, temperatures were mainly below normal. Precipitation was above normal in Baker County Oregon and near to below normal elsewhere.

MARCH

March precipitation anomalyMarch temperature anomaly

March was unusually dry. Much of our area received less than half normal precipitation.  Temperatures averaged near normal in the valleys, but above normal at higher elevations.

The month began with an upper level high pressure ridge over the region, resulting in above normal temperatures for the first three days of the month.

A cooling trend commenced when the ridge exited to the east on the 3rd and a ridge off the coast amplified northward into Alaska. This pattern brought cold dry air under northerly flow aloft.

By the 8th Arctic air had pushed south of the Canadian border into Montana, northern Idaho, and Washington. the Arctic front arrived in southern Idaho early on the morning of the 9th, leaving only light snowfalls. By that night the front was on its way south across Utah and Nevada.  Northwest winds which had gusted over 25 mph died down and skies cleared, allowing temperatures to dip into the teens and single digits by sunrise on the 10th. McCall’s low of minus 4 was not a record, but the lows of 14 at Boise and 9 at Twin Falls where previous records were 15 in 1948 at Boise and17 in 2006 at Twin Falls.

Temperatures quickly recovered on the 11th as a high pressure ridge moved inland, bringing warmer Pacific air. A weak upper level low pressure trough followed the ridge on the 13th.

On the 15th a stronger moister trough arrived from the Pacific. Precipitation was mainly less than two-tenths of an inch, but .41 inch was measured at McCall and .34 inch at Boise.

Westerly flow aloft continued to support near normal temperatures through the 18th. On the 19th the next trough brought light precipitation and cooler air.

The 20th was 10-15 degrees cooler behind the cold front, but the ridge which followed brought more spring like temperatures, with highs in the lower to mid 70s in the lower valleys from the 23rd through the 26th.  The ridge kept temperatures 5-10 degrees above normal through the 29th. The 75 at Burns on the 23rd tied the record set in 1940.

On the 30th another Pacific cold front was followed by gusty northwest winds, but little if any precipitation.  Temperatures cooled from normal on the 30th to below normal on the 31st as breezy northwest winds resumed.

APRIL

April precipitation anomalyApril temperature anomaly

April was a cold, stormy, and windy month. All of our area as well as the entire northwestern U.S. averaged cooler than normal. Here are some of the record lows…

aprrecs

In contrast to the cold, Twin Falls set a record high of 80 on  April 8, eclipsing the old record for the date of 77 set in 2016.

Precipitation was generally above normal in southeast Oregon, southwest Owyhee County, and the central Idaho mountains. Elsewhere totals were near or slightly below normal.

At Boise, snowfall totaled 1.5 inches. That exceeds the April normal of 0.1 inch. The .3 inch on the 13th set a record for the date.

During the first 6 days of the month, strong westerly flow aloft carried weather systems from the Gulf of Alaska across the Pacific Northwest states.  On the 2nd the first of these systems brought no precipitation.

The next system on the 4th was stronger, but most locations received little or no precipitation. Exceptions were a quarter inch at Boise and half an inch at McCall. Strong winds followed the cold front, with gusts mainly in the 40-50 mph range. But there were several reports of gusts exceeding 60 mph.

An upper level high pressure ridge warmed temperatures to 10-20 degrees above normal on the 7th and 8th ahead of the next Pacific system.

On the 9th the ridge was replaced by an upper level trough, following another very windy cold front. Gusts of 40-50 mph were common, and there were a few reports of gusts exceeding 60 mph.

By the 10th the trough had expanded to cover much of central and western North America.  Unseasonably cold air kept temperatures in our area 10-15 degrees below normal.

Rain and snow fell daily from the 10th through the 14th as disturbances from the Gulf of Alaska dropped into the trough. Snowfall amounts were mostly under half an inch in the valleys, but 2.5 inches was measured near Twin Falls on the 11th, and 2.5 inches in Boise’s north end on the 12th. Also on the 12th 4.5 inches fell north of Donnelly. On the 14th 5.9 inches blanketed the ground near New Meadows.

https://twitter.com/NWSBoise/status/1513683580236435457?s=20&t=NMwydGu9khBfHvz75UnWMQ

More gusty northwest winds, mainly under 50 mph, followed a cold front on the 16th. A weak upper level ridge built over the region on the 17th, and on the 18th temperatures had warmed to around 10 degrees above normal. Cooler unsettled weather resumed on the 19th as an upper level trough off the coast sent impulses across our area.

The trough moved inland on the 22nd with another round of 40-50 mph winds. But most of its energy concentrated over southern California and the four-corners states, so most of our area was denied precipitation.  The high pressure ridge following the trough gave us the last warm weather of the month on the 25th ahead of another Pacific cold front.

The unsettled pattern redeveloped on the 26th as an upper level trough in  the Gulf of Alaska sent a series of disturbances inland across the Northwest. The first two systems dropped scarcely more than traces of precipitation.

On the 28th a cold front formed over Nevada and southwest Idaho, resulting in another episode of 40-50 mph winds.

On the 30th, showers and thunderstorms associated with an upper level trough brought generally light precipitation.

MAY

May precipitation anomaliesMay temperture anomaly

Unrelenting unseasonably cold and unsettled weather continued through much of May, but the latter half of the month brought long-awaited but brief hints of summer.

Precipitation was above or much above normal across most of our area.

The month began under an upper level low pressure trough which produced only light precipitation. A second stronger trough originating in the Gulf of Alaska brought more copious precipitation in the form of rain and snow, including .70 inch at Boise, .58 inch at McCall, .38 inch at Jerome, and .28 inch at Baker.

Here are a few snowfall reports on the 3rd…

9 inches 11 NE Garden City (Boise County) and 20 SSW of Silver City (Owyhee County)

7 inches 5 SW Donnelly (Valley County) and 15 W of Cambridge (Washington County)

6 inches 6 WSW Atlanta (Elmore County), 9 ESE Pioneerville (Boise County), 9 W Featherville (Elmore County), 16 E Rogerson (Twin Falls County), and 8 SE Three Creek (Twin Falls County)

5 inches 20 NNE McCall (Valley County)

4 inches 9 NNW Halfway (Baker County)

Precipitation started again on the evening of the 6th following a cold front which preceded a deepening trough from the Gulf of Alaska. Northwest winds in the 40-50 mph range were reported at many locations. Gusts of 69 mph were measured near Wagontire in Harney County and 62 mph near Kuna in Ada County.

As the trough took up residence over the Western Region on the 7th, it cooled highs by around 15 degrees and generated more rain and snow. McCall received .55 inch of precipitation, but amounts were generally light elsewhere.

A trough from the Bering Sea arrived over the coast on the 8th with even colder air. Snow began that night, and by the morning of the 9th the ground was white at many locations.

Here are a few reports…

11 Inches in Avimor (north Boise)

8 inches 6 N Boise (Ada County)

7 inches at Boise (Ada County)(totals ranged from 2 to 7 inches around Boise, but only half an inch at the airport, and a lot of tree damage in north Boise) and Cascade (Valley County)

https://twitter.com/CoachRittsD/status/1523735766412660736?s=20&t=s_JO4cOPlqcjHV84-ogwuA

4 inches at Centerville (Boise County), 4ENE Boise (Ada County), and 2E Emmett (Gem County)

3 inches at Garden City (Ada County)

2 inches at Mountain Home (Elmore County)

Generally light precipitation fell on the 12th and 13th as yet another trough from the Gulf of Alaska pushed inland along the Canadian border. A high pressure ridge building northward prevented most of the weather from penetrating very far south.

Temperatures rose steadily under the ridge, reaching the 80s at several locations on the 15th. Highs included 88 at Ontario and Rome, 85 at Boise and Mountain Home, 83 at Burns, 82 at Jerome, and 81 at Twin Falls.

Temperatures cooled to near normal from the 16th through the 18th as the ridge departed to the east and our area came under westerly flow aloft.

A cold front which passed late on the 18th brought gusts of 40-50 mph at many locations. Gusts exceeded 60 mph in the Twin Falls area.

The 19th were as much as 20 degrees cooler than the previous day.  The trough hung around through the 22nd.

Temperatures stayed below normal but gradually moderated as a high pressure ridge began to build inland. By the 25th highs were in the 80s again at lower elevations. Highs on the 25th and 26th included 82 and 91 at Jerome, 88 and 89 at Rome, 88 and 86 at Ontario, 85 and 89 at Mountain Home, 82 and 88 at Boise, 80 and 88 at Twin Falls, 82 and 81 at Burns, and 79 and 84 at Baker.

On the 26th a Pacific cold front was followed by another round of gusty northwest winds gusting to 40-50 mph.

On the 27th the trough following the cold front ushered in a wet period. And on the 28th a deeper, wetter, and colder trough, which originated in eastern Siberia, moved inland over the Pacific Northwest states. Finally on the 30th, a trough from southeast Alaska reinforced the main trough. Temperatures that day averaged as much at 20 degrees below normal.

Here are Precipitation totals(inches) for the 26th through the 31st…

Baker 1.41
Boise .85
Burns .31
Jerome 1.07
McCall .76
Mountain Home .97
Ontario .53
Rome .30
Twin Falls 1.04

As the trough began to exit southward over the Great Basin on the 31st, weak high pressure and partly cloudy skies started a warming trend.

2022 Idaho Spring Flood and Water Resources Outlook

Spring Flood PotentialSEWApr622

The risk for spring flooding due to snowmelt is low across Idaho. Snowpack in the lower valleys has melted out and the remaining mid and high elevation snowpack is well below normal for this time of year with the exception of northern Idaho where snowpack percentages are near normal. Snowpack in most basins peaked early and is on pace to melt out several weeks earlier than normal. 

The primary factors in the development of spring flooding are the occurrence of persistent above normal temperatures, and rain on snow precipitation events. Even if mainstem rivers do not reach flood stage, smaller creeks and streams can still overflow their banks. Under the right scenario, spring flooding is possible even for areas that have low snowpack. 

 

Water Supply 

NWSFApr622ational Weather Service water supply forecasts for April through September 2022 call for near normal runoff volumes for northern Idaho watersheds. Meanwhile, forecasts vary considerably across central and southern Idaho and are generally well below normal. Forecasts for the Snake River Headwaters near the Wyoming border and the Bear River in far southeast Idaho are generally 50 to 70 percent of normal. Volume forecasts for the Lost River Basins and Salmon River Basin are 60 to 80 percent of normal while forecasts for the Wood River Basins are 35 to 55 percent of normal. Forecasts for the Middle Snake River and the    Boise, Payette, and Weiser Basins range from 50 to 75 percent of normal. Across south central and southwest Idaho near the Nevada border runoff volumes are only expected to be 40 to 45 percent of normal. 

 

Temperature and Precipitation

In October, southern Idaho and the Panhandle Region had average to well above average precipitation while the Clearwater and Salmon River Basins in central Idaho were below average.  November precipitation was average to above average across the north while southern Idaho received well below average precipitation. Autumn was relatively warm statewide, especially in November when temperatures were 3 to 6 degrees (F) above average. December moisture varied considerably across Idaho but the majority of the state received average or above average precipitation. December temperatures were on the cool side across northern Idaho and a little above average across southern Idaho. 

AnoApr622

January precipitation was below average across most of the state while temperatures were near average across northern Idaho and below average across the south. Northern regions of Idaho were a mix of below average and above average precipitation in February while record dryness occurred across central and southern Idaho. February was a cold month with below average temperatures throughout the state.  March precipitation was below average with the exception of some of the Idaho Panhandle where precipitation was near average. March temperatures were average to below average across northern and eastern Idaho and a little above average elsewhere across the state.  The three month period from January through March, 2022 was one of the driest on record for many locations across central and southern Idaho. 

Snowpack

Mountain snowpack was well above normal across most of the state in early January. However, snowpack percentages trended down afterward and by the end of February had decreased by 50 to 60 percentage points across much of central and southern Idaho. As of April 6, mountain snowpack was well below normal with the exception of northern Idaho where snowpack percentages are near normal. April 6 snowpack percentages were the highest in the Spokane and Clearwater Basins at 99 and 91 percent of median, while the lowest was in the Owyhee Basin at only 48 percent of median. Idaho snowpack as a whole typically builds through March and peaks in early April.

SWEApr622

Reservoirs

April 1 reservoir storage in northern Idaho, far southeast Idaho, on the Henrys Fork arm of the Upper Snake, the Payette Basin, and on the main stem Snake River was generally around normal. Elsewhere across central and southern Idaho, reservoir system storage ranged from 39 to 88 percent of normal. Reservoirs on the Snake River above Heise were at a combined 57 percent of normal. Magic Reservoir in south central Idaho was only at 39 percent of normal while Owyhee Reservoir was only 63 percent of normal. Weather patterns and irrigation demand will drive reservoir operations over the next several months. Wet spring weather or extended periods of above normal temperatures resulting in rapid snowmelt and large reservoir inflows could result in significant fluctuations in reservoir discharge and downstream river levels.

Drought

Drought continues to plague much of Idaho. Very dry conditions across much of central and southern Idaho from January through March have led to intensification of drought in some areas. Temperature and precipitation patterns for the remainder of spring and this summer will determine whether or not drought conditions improve or deteriorate. The U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook indicates that drought is likely to persist across central and southern Idaho at least through the end of June. 

DRApr622

Long Range Outlook

The outlook for April through June favors below normal temperatures across the Idaho Panhandle and above normal temperatures for most of southern Idaho, and equal chances of either below, above, or normal temperatures elsewhere. The precipitation outlook favors below normal precipitation across central and southern Idaho, and equal chances for either below, above, or normal precipitation across the Idaho Panhandle.

SEAApr622

Online Resources

Water Supply Volume Forecasts…
National Weather Service-Northwest River Forecast Center www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/ws/

National Weather Service-Colorado Basin River Forecast Center
www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/id/snow/

Snowpack Information…
National Weather Service-Northwest River Forecast Center
www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/snow/

National Weather Service-National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center
www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/id/snow/

Reservoir Storage…
Bureau of Reclamation Reservoir Storage
www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/select.html

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/basin.html

Drought Information…
U.S. Drought Portal
www.drought.gov

Peak Flow Forecasts…
Northwest River Forecast Center
www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/peak/

Colorado Basin River Forecast Center
www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/rmap/peak/peaklist.php

Temperature and Precipitation Outlook…
Climate Prediction Center
www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/

 

Winter 2020-2021 in Review

December

Temperatures were above normal in the mountains and below normal at lower elevations due to temperature inversions.  The entire region was drier or much drier than normal. The driest areas were the central Snake River Valley, the Camas Prairie, and the Boise Mountains.   An upper-level high pressure ridge dominated through the 10th, keeping our region dry. Burns was an exception, where a weak upper level low pressure trough brought light snow on the 6th.  From the 11th through the 16th, a temperature inversion resulted in areas of night and morning fog. A trough from the Gulf of Alaska brought light snow on the 13th and 14th. It was too weak to mix out the inversion, as most of its energy crossed the Intermountain Region well south of our area. 

The inversion finally broke as a stronger trough crossed the area on the 17th, bringing 5-10 inches of snow to the mountains, but only light precipitation in the valleys. An exception was the .55 inch rainfall at Jerome, which established a new record for the date.  Mild westerly flow aloft brought a warming trend from the 18th through the 22nd.  High temperature records were tied or broken at several locations on the 21st and 22nd. 

City New Record Old Record Year
Baker City 56 55 1972
Burns 53 51 1972
Jerome 58 58 1969
McCall 43 43 2019
Twin Falls (21st) 59 53 2014
Twin Falls (22nd) 50 50 2005

A strong Pacific cold front crossed the area on the 22nd, followed by a 10-20 degree temperature drop. Strong northwest winds gusting to 40-50 mph followed the front. A gust of 57 mph was measured north of Andrews in Harney County.  The trough which followed the front produced light precipitation at lower elevations. Moderate amounts of snow fell in the mountains, including 5 inches at Brundage.  

https://twitter.com/NWSBoise/status/1341508962311688197/

Following this system, a strong ridge kept skies mostly clear through Christmas eve.

A weak trough brought mainly light precipitation on the 25th and 26th. Boise was an exception, where a third of an inch of precipitation fell on the 26th, which included half an inch of snow. A few inches of snow fell in the mountains. 

Another temperature inversion formed on the 26th, and locally dense fog returned to the valleys.  With cold air trapped in the valleys, temperatures failed to reach the freezing mark at many of the usually warmer locations in the 28th and 29th. 

https://twitter.com/NWSBoise/status/1343759866368675842?s=20

The final trough of the month weakened as it moved inland on the 31st, but it was able to drop several inches of snow on the mountains, including 8 inches at McCall and 6 inches at Tamarack.

DecemberDecemberp

January

Temperatures were above normal across the region, and much above normal in the Snake River Valley and parts of southeast Oregon.  Most of southern Idaho and parts of Baker and Harney Counties in Oregon were drier than normal, while the Treasure Valley and west central Idaho received above normal precipitation.  

https://twitter.com/NWSBoise/status/1345922598413062145

Strong westerly flow across the Pacific was charged with abundant moisture as it swept inland with a warm front on the 3rd, resulting in heavy precipitation. Totals from a half inch to an inch of water were common, falling as rain at lower elevations and snow in the mountains. Bogus Basin accumulated 7 inches.  Strong west winds, mostly in the 40 to 50 mph range, followed a cold front on the 4th.  A gust of 63 mph was measured at Wagontire in Harney County.  On the 5th another warm front brought heavy snow to the mountains. Banner Summit got 14 inches. Bogus Basin and Tamarack received 10 inches. Atlanta also got 10 inches. Bogus Basin got 7 additional inches on the 7th as a trough crossed the area. Little if any precipitation fell at lower elevations from the 5th through the 7th. On the 12th a weak but moist trough embedded in the westerly flow brought more snow to the mountains, while relatively light precipitation fell at lower elevations. At Council 7 inches was measured, and 6 inches fell at Brundage and McCall.  A cold front crossed the area on the 13th, followed by wind gusts of 30-45 mph.

High pressure kept the area mostly dry from the 14th through the 20th.  From the 21st through the 26th, weak troughs moving down the coast from the Gulf of Alaska brought only light precipitation to our valleys and a few inches of snow to the higher elevations.  A record low temperature of 10 degrees was set at Twin Falls on the 25th, breaking the old record of 12 set in 2008.  On the 27th a stronger trough centered over southeast Alaska deepened southward just offshore. Southerly flow aloft on the east flank of the trough was felt at the surface as gusty south to southeast winds, generally in the 40 to 50 mph range. A gust of 68 mph was measured at Trail Gulch, 14 miles east-southeast of Hollister.   Also on the 27th, moderate amounts of snow fell in eastern Oregon and west-central Idaho, due mainly to lifting of the air by the mountains. At McCall 9 inches was measured, and 7 inches fell at Midvale. At Huntington in Baker County 5 inches was reported. 

Januaryp

January

February

February was a month of very active weather. Temperatures were near or above normal at most locations. February is normally warmer than January, but this year it was actually colder than January at Boise, McCall, Mountain Home, and Ontario. It’s not the first time this has happened, but at Boise it was the fourth year in a row.

On average, February is the driest winter month, but this year it was the wettest in the Treasure Valley and eastern Oregon. However, the Boise Mountains, Camas Prairie, and Magic Valley were drier than normal.  The month began with above-normal temperatures under southwest flow aloft ahead of an offshore trough. As the trough moved inland, a cold front crossed our area during the afternoon and evening of the 2nd.  This marked the beginning of a pattern change which would lead to long overdue winter weather for the valleys. Northwest flow aloft developed on the 4th and strengthened during the following days.  On the 5th, a fast-moving trough from the Gulf of Alaska brought a few inches of snow to the mountains, but its main impact was strong west to northwest wind. Gusts of 45-55 mph were common, but by far the strongest wind measured was 92 mph at Soldier Mountain.  Meanwhile on the 3rd, arctic air had plunged south across the Canadian border east of the Rockies. The mountains, and strong northwest winds aloft, kept it out of Idaho. A second invasion of even colder arctic air entered Montana on the 5th. By the 6th, its western margin had stalled along the Montana border.  Meanwhile, the “milder” western portion of the same arctic airmass was drifting south through the mountains of British Columbia. It entered Washington on the 8th and northeast Oregon on the 9th.  The front marking its leading edge reached eastern Oregon and southern Idaho on the 11th.  Moist air streaming inland ahead of an approaching trough was lifted over the cold air north of the front, resulting in snow which became heavier as the trough drew closer on the 12th and crossed our area on the 13th.  Snowfalls of 3 to 6 inches were common in the valleys on the 12th.  Up to 6 more inches fell on the 13th, with heavier accumulations in the mountains. By the time the snow ended, 7 to 10 inches had accumulated in the Treasure Valley. McCall, which nearly always gets way more snow than Boise, also reported a storm total of 10 inches. Totals of 13 inches were measured at both Bogus Basin and Magic Mountain ski areas, while Twin Falls reported only 2 inches.  The 4.4 inches which fell at the Boise airport on the 12th broke the old record for the date of 1.3 inches set in 1966, and the 5.5 inches on the 13th broke the old record of 4.3 inches set in 1995.  

On the 15th another trough from the Pacific brought more snow, with 1 to 4 inches in the valleys and 5 to 10 inches in the mountains. Wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph were observed in Harney County and the Magic Valley.  From the 16th through the 22nd, Pacific systems brought more snow to the mountains but generally light precipitation in the valleys. With afternoon temperatures above freezing, there was little if any snow accumulation in the lower valleys.  On the 23rd, a cold front was followed by a wind event which mainly affected southeast Oregon and areas east of Boise. There were many reports of gusts in the 45 to 55 mph range, but a gust of 67 mph was measured at Twin Falls.  On the 26th, another strong cold front swept across the region. One of the stronger gusts was 59 mph from the west-northwest at the Boise airport. A brief snow squall followed the front, but less than half an inch fell at the airport.  

On the 27th a trough from the Gulf of Alaska brought heavy snow to the mountains. Some of the heavier totals were 12 inches at Mores Creek Summit, 15 inches at Banner Summit, 20 inches at Tamarack, and 22 inches at Brundage.

2021 Idaho Spring Flood and Water Resources Outlook

Spring Flood Potential

Screen Shot 2021-03-23 at 10.28.21 AMThe risk for spring flooding due to snowmelt is near average across most of Idaho. The exceptions are the Big Lost Basin and Little Wood Basin, and the Medicine Lodge, Beaver, and Camas Basin in central and east-central Idaho where the risk is slightly below average due to well below normal snowpack and low soil moisture. Above normal
temperatures in December and January helped limit the snowpack in the low elevations which significantly reduces the snowmelt flood risk during late winter and early spring.

The primary factors in the development of spring flooding are the occurrence of persistent above normal temperatures, and rain on snow precipitation events. Even if mainstem rivers do not reach flood stage, smaller creeks and streams can still overflow their banks. Under the right scenario, spring flooding is possible even for areas that have low snowpack. Additionally, wildfire burn scars can have a significant impact on local flood potential during spring snowmelt.Screen Shot 2021-03-23 at 10.28.15 AM

Water Supply

National Weather Service water supply volume forecasts for the spring and summer of 2021 are near normal for northern Idaho watersheds. Meanwhile, forecasts vary considerably across central and southern Idaho with subpar snowpack and longer term hydrologic drought leading to well below normal forecasts in some areas. Forecasts for the Snake River headwaters region along the Wyoming border and the West Central Mountains are generally 75 to 85 percent of normal. Volume forecasts for the rest of the Central Mountains and southern Idaho watersheds are well below normal ranging from 25 percent to 70 percent of normal. The lowest forecasts are for the Big Wood and Little Wood Basins, and the Big Lost River Basin. Low snowpack and poor streamflows in these areas could lead to water supply concerns, especially for those relying on natural flows. These forecasts may change considerably over the next couple of months since seasonal snow accumulation and rainfall typically occur during March and April.

Temperature and Precipitation

The 2021 Water Year started out well across northern Idaho with above normal precipitation in October, while rather dry conditions prevailed across southern Idaho. Most of the state received near normal or above normal precipitation in November with the exception being near the Canadian border and portions of central Idaho where only 50 to 70 percent of normal occurred. December was a very dry month for the state as a whole. Precipitation in January was improved for some areas but dry conditions continued for the majority of Idaho. A favorable storm track in February brought normal or well above normal precipitation to the majority of the state except for the Northern Panhandle and the Central Mountains east of the Sawtooths which received less than normal precipitation. Temperatures were around normal in October and November with warmer than normal conditions prevailing in December and January. February temperatures were near normal across far southern Idaho and below normal across the remainder of the state.

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Snowpack

As of March 3, mountain snowpack was near normal for most of Idaho. The Clearwater Basin led the way with 113 percent of normal while the Little Wood and Big Lost River Basins were lagging at 66 and 69 percent of normal. Idaho snowpack as a whole typically builds through March and peaks in early April.Screen Shot 2021-03-23 at 10.28.00 AM

Reservoirs

Reservoir storage across Idaho was in good shape as of early March with major reservoir systems holding near average water with the exception of the Wood and Lost River Basins. Across southern Idaho, basin-wide total storage in the Bear River Basin was near 136 percent of average while Southside Snake Basins were near 81 percent of average. Storage in West Central Basins was near 103 percent of average while the Wood and Lost Basins were only 59 percent of average. The Upper Snake River Basin was at 120 percent of average, the Clearwater Basin at 103 percent of average and Panhandle Region was 106 percent of average. Weather patterns, irrigation demand, and flood control needs will drive reservoir operations over the next several months. Wet spring weather or extended periods of above normal temperatures resulting in rapid snowmelt and large reservoir inflows could result in significant fluctuations in reservoir discharge and downstream river levels.

Drought

Drought conditions continue to plague portions of southern Idaho. The Wood River Basins and Big Lost River Basin of south central Idaho are the focus for drought due to subpar snowpack and precipitation dating back to the winter of 2019-2020. Meanwhile, long-term dryness along the Utah and Nevada border is resulting in drought conditions as well. Weather and precipitation for the remainder of winter and this spring will determine whether or not drought conditions improve or deteriorate.

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Long Range Outlook

The outlook for March through May favors below normal temperatures across the Idaho Panhandle and above normal temperatures along the Utah and Nevada border. Elsewhere across the state, the chances for either below, above, or normal temperatures are equal. The precipitation outlook slightly favors above normal precipitation across the Panhandle Region. Elsewhere the precipitation outlook is equal chances for either below, above, or normal precipitation.

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On-line Resources

Water Supply Volume Forecasts…
National Weather Service-Northwest River Forecast Center www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/ws/

National Weather Service-Colorado Basin River Forecast Center
www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/id/snow/

Snowpack Information…
National Weather Service-Northwest River Forecast Center
www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/snow/

National Weather Service-National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center
www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/id/snow/

Reservoir Storage…
Bureau of Reclamation Reservoir Storage
www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/select.html

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/basin.html

Drought Information…
U.S. Drought Portal
www.drought.gov

Peak Flow Forecasts…
Northwest River Forecast Center
www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/peak/

Colorado Basin River Forecast Center
www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/rmap/peak/peaklist.php

Temperature and Precipitation Outlook…
Climate Prediction Center
www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/

November 2020 Weather Summary

November’s temperatures averaged close to normal.  Precipitation was generally above normal, although there were areas near the Nevada border where precipitation was less than 50 percent of normal.  A strong upper level high pressure ridge over the Intermountain Region on the 1st and 2nd weakened on the 3rd, but above-normal temperatures continued through the 6th ahead of a Pacific cold front.

On the 2nd, the highs of 70 at Burns and Twin Falls tied their records for the date. The 74 at Jerome set a new record, as did the 68 at Baker City.  On the 4th, new records were set at both Burns and Baker City with highs of 70 and 71 respectively.  On the 5th, Boise’s high of 76 set a new record for the date, as did the highs of 75 at Burns, 69 at Ontario, and 72 at Baker City.
On the 6th, the high of 67 at Ontario set a new record for the date. The high of 71 at Mountain Home tied their record.
The cold front crossed southeast Oregon and southwest Idaho on the 6th with little if any precipitation. The cold upper-level low pressure trough behind the front drifted south over California before settling over the Great basin on the 7th. At the same time, a second trough from Alaska was deepening over western Canada.
On the 8th, light to moderate amounts of snow fell as the Canadian trough joined forces with the Great Basin trough. Snowfalls in the Boise area ranged from 1 to 4 inches. The 2.7 inches at the Boise Airport set a new record for the date.
Yet another trough, this time from the Gulf of Alaska, arrived over the northwest U.S. on the 10th with only light snow. Meanwhile, a band of westerly flow aloft, aka the jet stream, was strengthening south of the Aleutians. Its arrival over the northwest coast on the 13th was preceded by a very active weather disturbance.
Rainfall amounts with this system included over two-thirds of an inch at Jerome and McCall, nearly a half inch at Boise, and a third of an inch at Burns and Ontario.
Heavy snow fell in the mountains, including 9 inches east of New Meadows, 8 inches northwest of McCall, and 10 inches near Halfway and Sumpter in Baker County.

Also in eastern Oregon on the 13th, a wind gust of 66 mph was measured north of Wagontire, and a gust of 63 mph was measured north of Andrews.
On the 15th, copious Pacific moisture accompanying a warm front brought more rain. The 0.46 inch at Boise and the 0.28 at Twin Falls were new records for the date.
More snow fell in the mountains, including 4 inches east of New Meadows and 9 inches at Cuprum in western Adams County.
Temperatures had been below normal since the 7th, but an upper-level high pressure ridge following the warm front raised temperatures above normal on the 16th.
On the 17th, a cold upper-level low pressure trough, which had been deepening off the B.C. coast, generated a strong cold front which pushed rapidly inland. The front, energized by the jet stream, was accompanied by thunderstorms with abundant lightning as it roared across southwest Idaho during late afternoon on the 18th.


Storm reports in the Boise area included brief heavy showers which produced from a quarter to a half inch of precipitation, small hail covering the ground at some locations, and wind gusts exceeding 40 mph. An inch of rain fell at Placerville and three-quarters of an inch near Horseshoe Bend.
The cold front caused only slight cooling, and temperatures remained above normal through the 19th under southwest flow aloft.
The next several days were much less dramatic as a series of relatively weak troughs and ridges crossed our area. During the morning of the 25th, a better organized trough brought light snow. One inch was measured at the Boise airport. Most of it melted during the afternoon.


By the 27th, a high pressure ridge had built over the northern Intermountain Region. As is typical of this time of year, the warm air aloft and nighttime cooling in the valleys resulted in an inversion which kept temperatures below normal from the 28th through the 30th.

On the 30th, a weather disturbance brought more light snow. It was not strong enough to break the inversion.

Snow across the mountains was well above normal for November standards.


November temperature anomaly
November precipitation departure

October 2020 Weather Statistics

October was generally warmer than normal when temperatures for the entire month were averaged. But that average gives no indication of the extremes.
October precipitation departureOctober temperature anomaly
As in September, precipitation was below normal.
From the 1st through the 9th, the ridge kept temperatures around 10 degrees above normal. As in September, smoke and haze kept highs from achieving their full potential.
On the 2nd, the high of 87 at Ontario tied their record for the date. And on the 3rd, the high of 87 at Burns set a new record for the date. On the 4th, the high of 85 at Twin Falls set a new daily record.
On the 10th, strong westerly flow aloft flattened the ridge as it carried a cold front inland from the northwest coast. As it crossed southeast Oregon and southwest Idaho, the front routed the smoke as it pushed east. Rain which followed the front washed out most of the remaining aerosols.

Seasonable temperatures followed the front, but an impending major pattern change would bring an early taste of winter.
The high pressure ridge, which had provided summer-like temperatures early in the month, shifted west off the coast and expanded north toward Alaska, resulting in northerly flow aloft over the Intermountain Region.
The first cold front from Canada crossed our area on the 21st. By sunrise on the 22nd, temperatures had dropped below 32, the first freezing readings of the season at many lower valley locations. An even stronger cold front followed on the 24th, delivering an early season blast of Arctic air from northwest Canada.
On the 25th, record lows for the date were set at Jerome and Twin Falls, with 22 and 15 respectively.
The low of 17 at Boise on the 26th set a new record for the date. The temperature dropped to a frigid 3 above at Burns, setting a new record. It was 10 above at McCall, tying their record for the date. The 10 above at Mountain Home set a new record. The 16 at both Jerome and Twin Falls broke their old records.
It is interesting to note that just last year a nearly identical late October weather pattern also resulted in record lows, along with some light snow in the lower valleys.
The high pressure ridge began to drift back over the western U.S. on the 27th, bringing a warming trend.
The 71 at Burns on the 30th set a new record.

September 2020 Weather Summary

September was warmer than normal. On the 4th, record highs of 102 were set at Boise and Burns. The 99 at Ontario tied the record for the date. On the 5th, the high of 100 at Boise tied the record for the date, and the 98 at Twin Falls set a new record.
Screen Shot 2020-12-28 at 12.08.10 PMScreen Shot 2020-12-28 at 12.08.22 PMScreen Shot 2020-12-28 at 12.08.36 PMScreen Shot 2020-12-28 at 12.09.28 PMScreen Shot 2020-12-28 at 12.09.52 PMScreen Shot 2020-12-28 at 12.09.11 PM
It would have been even warmer had it not been for widespread smoke and haze from wildfires.


It was a dry month, especially in southcentral and southeast Oregon, where totals were less than 5 percent of normal across a wide area.
September precipitation departure
September temperature anomaly
A very warm upper-level high pressure ridge anchored over the western region kept temperatures above normal during the first week of the month. By the 8th the ridge had migrated far enough west to allow a very cool upper-level low pressure trough to drop south from Canada.


The cold front ahead of the trough crossed our area on the 7th. Following the front, northwest winds in the 40-50 mph range were common. A gust of 54 mph from the northwest was measured near Boise.
https://twitter.com/NWSBoise/status/1303333613392388097?s=20
The trough kept temperatures below normal. Highs failed to reach 70 at a number of locations on the 8th.
Following the trough, the ridge built inland, and temperatures were above normal again on the 11th. The ridge dominated through the 17th, with highs in the 80s at many lower valley locations.
The northern part of the ridge gave way to a Pacific cold front on the 18th. Most locations received only light precipitation. Isolated thunderstorms generated outflow winds over 40 mph.
From the 20th through the 25th, the ridge was alive and well over the southwest U.S., while southwest flow aloft on its northern periphery kept temperatures in our region above normal.
Meanwhile, a more fall-like pattern was developing as westerly flow aloft strengthened across the North Pacific.
The upper-level winds carried a fast-moving weather disturbance inland on the 25th. While rainfall was generally light in the valleys, McCall set a record for the date with .54 inch.


Temperatures stayed below normal through the 27th. On the 28th the ridge, now resurrected over the west coast, brought a warming trend. It would guarantee above-normal temperatures through the 30th and beyond.

August 2020 Climate

August was warmer than normal across the area, and a number of record highs were set.
August 2020 temperature (2)
August 2020 precipitation

On the 15th, the high of 99 at Burns set a daily record.

On the 16th, the high of 103 at Boise set a daily record. A record of 100 was set at Burns.

On the 17th, the high of 102 set a record for the date at Boise. Other record highs include 106 at Mountain Home and 99 at Baker City.

On the 18th, the 98 at Baker City tied the daily record.

On the 19th, the 97 at Twin Falls was a record for the date.

It was drier than normal nearly everywhere, but, as mentioned in the July summary, that’s actually normal.

Monsoon thunderstorms brought more wind than rain.

On the 15th, a thunderstorm near Andrews, Oregon broke off dead tree limbs and did other minor damage. At Little McCoy Creek in Harney County, a gust of 63 mph was measured by automated equipment.

On the 17th, a gust of 70 mph was measured by a spotter. A spotter in Fields, Oregon measured a sustained speed of 44 mph with a gust of 58 mph. A spotter in Fields measured a 54 mph gust which resulted in lost power. There were numerous other reports of gusts exceeding 50 mph.

On the 18th a spotter in Oreana reported half-inch diameter hail.

As usual, the seasonal upper level high pressure ridge over the southwest states was the main source of the heat. An occasional Pacific cold front provided some respite, but there was no significant cooling Until the end of the month.

Had the air been clear, it would have been even hotter. But widespread smoke from wildfires limited high temperatures on many days. Persistent southwest flow aloft transported the smoke from its California source.

The monsoonal moisture brought high dewpoints to the region, which helped fuel afternoon and evening thunderstorms from August 24th through the 29th. Boise recorded the highest dewpoint since September 5th, 2013 on August 25th.

On August 26th, a long-lived supercell thunderstorm tracked across Owyhee County with 2″ diameter hail.

Overnight on the 29th, a dry cold front brought much cooler air from western Canada. Highs were around 15 degrees lower than on the previous day.

Northwest winds at the surface and aloft behind the front temporarily swept away most of the smoke.

On the 31st, a weather system from British Columbia brought clouds, a breezy afternoon, and slightly cooler air.

July 2020 Climate

The temperature, when averaged across the area, was slightly above normal. The greatest departures were at Baker City (+3.5 degrees), McCall (+2.5 degrees), and Rome (+2.1 degrees).
July 2020 temperature
Precipitation was below normal nearly everywhere. July is one of the two driest months of the year (the other being August), so dry is actually normal.
July 2020 precipitation
During most of the month, upper-level low pressure troughs moving inland over western Canada would play a role in our weather, as they vied for dominance with the very warm seasonal upper-level high pressure ridge over the southwest U.S.

Precipitation is usually associated with troughs, but during July they produced little if any rain south of the Canadian border, bringing only brief periods of slightly cooler weather.

Between troughs, the high pressure ridge to our south made its presence felt as it expanded northward.

Increasing amounts of monsoon moisture circulating within the ridge eventually managed to reach our area on the 22nd and 23rd, and again on the 27th and 28th, carried north ahead of weak low pressure troughs over California.

On the 23rd, thunderstorms brought locally strong gusty winds. At Rome, numerous tree branches were blown down and garbage cans were knocked over. A gust of 64 mph was measured 21 miles north of Murphy Hot Springs. Numerous other locations reported gusts in excess of 50 mph.

On the evening of the 28th, thunderstorms crossed the Owyhee Mountains, bringing spotty but locally heavy showers to the Boise area.

The ridge made a major northward expansion on the 30th and 31st, bringing the hottest weather of the summer.

At Baker City on the 30th, the high temperature of 101 tied the daily record set in 2003. And the 105 on the 31st set a new record for the date.

On the 31st at Burns, the high of 99 tied the record set in 1949. At Ontario, the high of 107 tied the record set in 1971.


Pocatello tied their all time record high temperature of 104 degrees as well.