Much of Boise’s snow melts away; state of emergency in Caldwell
After three days of subzero temperatures — including a low of -11 on Friday — it feels almost balmy in Boise on Monday, with highs in the 40s.
Things began to thaw out on Sunday, when the high reached 45, according to the National Weather Service. It was a wet day, with almost a quarter inch of precipitation recorded at the airport.
Temperatures rose to above freezing at about 12:30 p.m. Sunday, and they are expected to stay above freezing until Monday night. Rain showers Monday are accelerating the snow melt.
Boise recorded a record snow depth of 15 inches at the airport on Thursday, Jan. 5. The previous record was 13 inches.
By 5 a.m. Monday, the snow depth at the airport had dropped by almost half to just 8 inches, according to meteorologist Les Colin. It had dropped to 5 inches by 12:15 p.m.
Snow depth is an average of several measurements; some places measured at the airport today were as low as 3.5 inches.
But don’t expect all the snow to melt away today. Forecasters say temperatures are going to drop below freezing Monday night.
The highs Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be just above freezing, and there will be more rain and snow. Temperatures probably won’t be above freezing Thursday.
“We’ve got one system after another moving over us,” said Jeanne Allen, a meteorologist. (Why? La Nina, experts say. Here are more details.)
In Canyon County, the city of Caldwell declared a state of emergency “to facilitate the work necessary to minimize injury and damage to persona and property in city,” according to a press release. The City Council on Sunday passed a resolution to authorize emergency expenditures to help clear streets and storm drains and improve access for first responders.
In addition, private contractors jumped in to help city crews starting Sunday night, making “substantial progress.” The state of emergency is expected to last until Jan. 19.
Katy Moeller: 208-377-6413, @KatyMoeller
This story was originally published January 9, 2017 at 12:32 PM with the headline "Much of Boise’s snow melts away; state of emergency in Caldwell."