Weather Service issues wind advisory for Boise area, warning of gusts after cold front
Boise is in for a blustery afternoon with gusty winds and precipitation, according to officials with the National Weather Service’s Boise office.
The agency issued a wind advisory for the Treasure Valley, Magic Valley and parts of eastern Oregon on Tuesday. Meteorologist Bill Wojcik told the Idaho Statesman in a phone interview that Boise could see gusts of up to 40 mph, with the strongest winds likely to blow through Tuesday afternoon and taper off into the evening.
Wojcik said the winds are following a cold front that moved through the region early this morning.
Boise will miss the brunt of the storm, Wojcik said. Areas to the southeast, including Mountain Home, Twin Falls and Jerome, will likely have even stronger wind. Wojcik said gusts up to 59 mph were recorded in Twin Falls on Tuesday morning.
The Treasure Valley will also have mixed precipitation throughout the afternoon, Wojcik said. A combination of rain, snow and graupel — a kind of soft snow pellet similar to hail — could fall but likely won’t accumulate in the Boise area.
The Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for mountain areas north of Boise, including McCall and Idaho City. Wojcik said the combination of heavier mountain snow with gusty winds could reduce visibility to a quarter-mile.
“We’re in the midst of this low-pressure system that will stick around probably until about Thursday,” Wojcik told the Statesman, noting conditions should improve as the week goes on.
Wojcik urged people traveling to the mountains to keep an eye on road and weather conditions.
“It’s still winter up there,” he said.
This story was originally published February 21, 2023 at 11:18 AM.
