Debating whether to stay or go for Memorial Day weekend? This forecast might help
Those planning on camping for Memorial Day weekend may want to rethink their holiday plans — or at least bring a good raincoat and several pairs of dry socks.
The National Weather Service forecasts a weekend full of rain and storms for Idaho’s higher elevations, including the Owyhee and Boise mountains.
“If you’re going to go camping along the Nevada border, or if you’re going to go up into the Central Idaho mountains, you will experience some showers and thunderstorms almost daily,” Weather Service meteorologist Josh Smith told the Idaho Statesman on Thursday.
Those remaining in the Treasure Valley also have a chance of seeing an isolated thunderstorm, but it’s much less likely. Each day from Friday through Monday, Boise has just a 20%-30% chance of rain.
This weekend will likely be Idaho’s third major rain event this month. Boise picked up an inch of rain in a system that hit between May 5-9 and a quarter of an inch on May 15. As of Thursday afternoon, the city had accumulated 1.29 inches of rain, already surpassing the historical monthly average of 1.13 inches.
The active weather month can be attributed to a low-pressure system that’s persisted over the Pacific Ocean, pushing moisture and unstable energy toward the Gem State. Meanwhile, a ridge — an elongated area of high pressure — has sat over the central United States, blocking any potential movement of the low-pressure area, causing storms in Idaho.
“There’s … been a pretty persistent ridge across the central part of the country and then a deeper low New England area out east,” Smith said. “So it’s sort of a blocking pattern; everything’s just kind of been staying where it has been for the moment.”
Smith said he expects the pattern to hold in place for the rest of the month, bringing continued moisture to the Pacific Northwest.
But those staying in town will be rewarded with perfect temperatures throughout the weekend. Boise is forecast to have a high temperature of 78 degrees Friday, which will slowly increase to a high of 84 by Memorial Day.
