Thank you, northwest winds, we needed that.

The skies over Boise Sunday afternoon are clear and blue, thanks to a system out of the northwest that pushed out an inversion that trapped cold air and pollution close to the Valley floor.

The high temperature for the day had reached just 34 by 5:15 p.m., and it isn't likely to get much warmer, said Les Colin, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service. But temperatures are expected to reach 40 and above on Tuesday and later in the week, and lows will be in the low-20s.

How many days this month has Boise reached 40? Just one so far — Jan. 9, the high was 46.

But before it gets warmer, there will be more snow. The Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for Monday night and Tuesday morning. There could be light snow during the daylight hours Monday, but most of the snow is expected to fall at night.

Boise could see 2 to 4 inches of snow by Tuesday morning, while the Owyhee Mountains may get 4 to 8 inches of snow. Motorists should prepare for driving on snow-covered roads and highways.

Katy Moeller: 377-6413