It’s a windy Thursday for Boise. How strong? Think weak tropical storm level at times

Shaun Goodwin
·2 min read

Hold on to your hats and keep an eye on that lawn furniture, Boise.

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for the upper Treasure Valley and southeast into the Magic Valley until 9 p.m. Thursday, forecasting sustained winds of 30-40 mph and gusts up to 50 mph.

Just how strong is that? If the sustained winds persist at the upper limit of 40 mph, Boise’s weather will be comparable to a weak tropical storm.

“(The strongest winds) are just south of Boise technically, in our detailed hazards,” NWS meteorologist Sophia Adams told the Idaho Statesman. “So we are expecting strong 30-mile-per-hour winds, the 40- to 50-knot gusts. We’re expecting more of those near Mountain Home and near the Camas Prairie.”

Despite the strongest winds being south of Boise, Adams still warned hikers and bikers to be careful in the Boise Foothills, where strong wind can have a significant impact.

She also said to watch out for the potential of fallen branches on roads, and said drivers on Interstate 84 between Oregon and Mountain Home should be cautious of strong gusts.

What does this mean for Boise’s temperature?

The wind comes along the back of an upper-level trough, Adams said, which causes air pressure in the region to compress. A cold front accompanied the trough and has already dropped the temperature in Boise about 10 degrees compared to Wednesday morning.

It was expected to be nearly freezing Thursday night, with temps forecast to drop to 36 degrees.

“When we have those strong temperature and pressure gradients, we typically see pretty strong winds associated with them,” Adams said. “So that’s the major reason for what’s driving a lot of the strong winds.”

A map showed a blue line across southeast Idaho representing the cold front and an L representing the low-pressure system associated with the cold front. Low-pressure systems often bring stormy weather behind them, causing a forecast of mixed precipitation for North Idaho, and most of Montana and Wyoming.

The cold front has already moved through Boise, bringing colder weather and high winds behind it. Temperatures will continue to drop for Boise through the evening.
The cold front has already moved through Boise, bringing colder weather and high winds behind it. Temperatures will continue to drop for Boise through the evening.

Temperatures in Boise will rebound this weekend, with high 60s and low 70s on Saturday and Sunday.