Canceled church services in Treasure Valley, record low temps
It’s been a record-setting week for winter weather in the Treasure Valley, and late Friday another record was topped as temperatures dipped to their lowest seen for Jan. 6, according to the National Weather Service in Boise.
Around 11:40 p.m., NWS recorded a temperature of -11 degrees in Boise, creeping past the previous record low for the date, -10 degrees, which was set in 1982, said meteorologist Les Colin.
Boise recorded -11F at 1141 PM Friday which set a record low for Jan 6 (old record was -10F in 1982) #idwx
— NWS Boise (@NWSBoise) January 7, 2017
Fortunately, Colin said, temperatures are looking up in the next few days, so he’s not expected to challenge any more record lows. However, the warmer weather means even more snowfall. Three to five inches are projected through Saturday night, with a few additional inches possible on Sunday, Colin said.
“We’re looking at 5-7 inches total,” he said.
A winter storm warning was still in effect for the lower Treasure Valley (Nampa, Caldwell, Emmett) on Saturday evening, but the warning for the upper Treasure Valley (Boise, Meridian) had been reduced to a winter storm advisory.
Currently, the Treasure Valley is in about fifth place since record-keeping began for total amount of snowfall through this date in the season with 23 total inches, Colin said. He expects to bump into fourth place with this weekend’s precipitation.
Snow on Sunday is expected to turn into freezing rain “or regular rain” later in the day due to warming temperatures, Colin said. However, officials with Boise, Nampa and the Ada County Highway District have expressed concern that rain could lead to small bouts of localized flooding. They advise residents to clear snow and ice out of street gutters and away from drains to minimize damage.
[Find a map of ACHD storm drain locations here]
Colin said more weather systems will roll into the area off of the Pacific through next Friday, bringing higher temperatures and more snow and rain.
“We’re be on either side of 32 (degrees),” he said. “It’s going to stay wet until next Friday.”
Cancellations
Officials with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have said that the church is canceling all Treasure Valley meetings Sunday. Other churches closing include:
Wright Community Congregational United Church of Christ
First Congregational United Church of Christ
Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Nampa Church of the Brethren
Hillcrest Trinity Assembly
All Saints Presbyterian Church
Southminster Presbyterian Church
King of Glory Lutheran Church
Treasure Valley Baptist Church
Caldwell Canyon Hill Church of the Nazarene
Tree City Church of the Nazarene
Christian Faith Center (both Nampa locations and Caldwell location)
Harvest Life Church in Nampa
Cathedral of the Rockies said it will still hold services on Sunday at its Downtown location and encourages churchgoers to watch a livestream online if they’re unable to attend in person. Its Amity location will be closed.
Discovery Church Boise said in a Facebook post that its 9 a.m. Sunday service would be canceled. It plans to hold only an 11 a.m. service.
Calls to the Catholic Diocese of Boise and local Episcopalian churches had not been returned Sunday morning. Do you know of a cancellation we’re missing? Email us at newsroom@idahostatesman.com.
Plowing and roads
ACHD has faced some criticism over its ability to clear roads, prompting Boise Mayor Dave Bieter to declare a state of emergency in order to prepare for this weekend’s weather. In addition to its normal fleet of snow plows, de-icers and other machinery, ACHD has hired 12 private contractors to help clear the streets.
The city of Boise has also pitched in to help make roads passable. Streets in Downtown Boise were made no-parking zones in an effort to aid snow removal.
According to a press release, the Idaho National Guard will also be stepping in to help clear roads in anticipation of this weekend’s snowfall.
“This support comes as the Idaho National Guard is conducting their regularly scheduled monthly weekend drill, which already included snow removal training on its calendar,” the release said.
Maj. Gen. Gary Sayler in the release said that ACHD and the Guard would work together to determine the best use of the Guard’s snow removal equipment and operators.
“We will be working in support of Ada County Highway District through Sunday primarily on snow removal operations,” Sayler said in the release. “They will advise us on where, when and how we can best provide them the support they need.”
Advice for residents
▪ Clear snow away from fire hydrants so first-responders have clear access to that equipment.
▪ Also, clear gas meters and furnace vent areas. A buried or iced-over natural gas regulator can become clogged, affecting the supply of gas. When the snow melts and becomes more wet and heavy, it can put pressure on the meter and piping, warns Intermountain Gas.
Find more information
▪ Boise mayor declares state of emergency due to snow, potential flooding.
▪ Analysis: Buy more plows? Put private contractors on retainer? What’s ACHD’s best snow policy?
▪ Check the Ada County Highway District cameras for current conditions.
▪ Check here for statewide road conditions.
Boise Airport
Check here to see your flight’s status.
It’s been a record-setting week for winter weather in the Treasure Valley, and late Friday another record was topped as temperatures dipped to their lowest seen for Jan. 6, according to the National Weather Service in Boise.
Around 11:40 p.m., NWS recorded a temperature of -11 degrees in Boise, creeping past the previous record low for the date, -10 degrees, which was set in 1982, said meteorologist Les Colin.
Boise recorded -11F at 1141 PM Friday which set a record low for Jan 6 (old record was -10F in 1982) #idwx
— NWS Boise (@NWSBoise) January 7, 2017
Fortunately, Colin said, temperatures are looking up in the next few days, so he’s not expected to challenge any more record lows. However, the warmer weather means even more snowfall. Three to five inches are projected through Saturday night, with a few additional inches possible on Sunday, Colin said.
“We’re looking at 5-7 inches total,” he said.
A winter storm warning was still in effect for the lower Treasure Valley (Nampa, Caldwell, Emmett) on Saturday evening, but the warning for the upper Treasure Valley (Boise, Meridian) had been reduced to a winter storm advisory.
Currently, the Treasure Valley is in about fifth place since record-keeping began for total amount of snowfall through this date in the season with 23 total inches, Colin said. He expects to bump into fourth place with this weekend’s precipitation.
Snow on Sunday is expected to turn into freezing rain “or regular rain” later in the day due to warming temperatures, Colin said. However, officials with Boise, Nampa and the Ada County Highway District have expressed concern that rain could lead to small bouts of localized flooding. They advise residents to clear snow and ice out of street gutters and away from drains to minimize damage.
[Find a map of ACHD storm drain locations here]
Colin said more weather systems will roll into the area off of the Pacific through next Friday, bringing higher temperatures and more snow and rain.
“We’re be on either side of 32 (degrees),” he said. “It’s going to stay wet until next Friday.”
Cancellations
Officials with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have said that the church is canceling all Treasure Valley meetings Sunday.
Other churches closing include:
Wright Community Congregational United Church of Christ
First Congregational United Church of Christ
Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Nampa Church of the Brethren
All Saints Presbyterian Church
King of Glory Lutheran Church
Treasure Valley Baptist Church
Caldwell Canyon Hill Church of the Nazarene
Vertical Church Boise also canceled its Saturday night services.
Cathedral of the Rockies said it will still hold services on Sunday at its Downtown location and encourages churchgoers to watch a livestream online if they’re unable to attend in person. Its Amity location will be closed.
Discovery Church Boise said in a Facebook post that its 9 a.m. Sunday service would be canceled. It plans to hold only an 11 a.m. service. Tree City Church said it will still hold 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. services.
Calls to the Catholic Diocese of Boise and local Episcopalian churches had not been returned Saturday afternoon. Do you know of a cancellation we’re missing? Email us at newsroom@idahostatesman.com.
Plowing and roads
ACHD has faced some criticism over its ability to clear roads, prompting Boise Mayor Dave Bieter to declare a state of emergency in order to prepare for this weekend’s weather. In addition to its normal fleet of snow plows, de-icers and other machinery, ACHD has hired 12 private contractors to help clear the streets.
The city of Boise has also pitched in to help make roads passable. Streets in Downtown Boise were made no-parking zones in an effort to aid snow removal.
According to a press release, the Idaho National Guard will also be stepping in to help clear roads in anticipation of this weekend’s snowfall.
“This support comes as the Idaho National Guard is conducting their regularly scheduled monthly weekend drill, which already included snow removal training on its calendar,” the release said.
Maj. Gen. Gary Sayler in the release said that ACHD and the Guard would work together to determine the best use of the Guard’s snow removal equipment and operators.
“We will be working in support of Ada County Highway District through Sunday primarily on snow removal operations,” Sayler said in the release. “They will advise us on where, when and how we can best provide them the support they need.”
Advice for residents
▪ Clear snow away from fire hydrants so first-responders have clear access to that equipment.
▪ Also, clear gas meters and furnace vent areas. A buried or iced-over natural gas regulator can become clogged, affecting the supply of gas. When the snow melts and becomes more wet and heavy, it can put pressure on the meter and piping, warns Intermountain Gas.
Find more information
▪ Boise mayor declares state of emergency due to snow, potential flooding.
▪ Analysis: Buy more plows? Put private contractors on retainer? What’s ACHD’s best snow policy?
▪ Check the Ada County Highway District cameras for current conditions.
▪ Check here for statewide road conditions.
Boise Airport
Check here to see your flight’s status.
No roof rake?
Here’s how Wendy Stevens, of Boise, said she solved that problem Saturday:
“I made a roof rake by getting a 10-foot piece of PVC [pipe] and a dustpan that fit the PVC. I glued it together, then duct-taped it like crazy. My husband and granddaughter were able to scrape a great deal of the snow off our garage roof, about half way up. It held up well and is ready for the next round.”
This story was originally published January 7, 2017 at 9:45 AM with the headline "Canceled church services in Treasure Valley, record low temps."