Will July arrive with triple digits? The heat is on in Boise for extended July 4 weekend
It’s about to get really hot in Boise.
After a wetter-than-normal couple of months, a high-pressure ridge will settle over the area, bringing temperatures into the upper 90s and maybe even 100s over the weekend and through July 4, which is Tuesday.
These will be by far the highest temperatures Boise has seen this year, and there’s a 48% chance that temperatures will hit triple digits on Saturday, National Weather Service meteorologist Jackson MacFarland told the Idaho Statesman on Wednesday.
“We’re going to see some clear skies, warm temperatures and lower relative humidity,” MacFarland said.
Saturday’s and Sunday’s high temperatures are forecast to be 97, about 9 degrees hotter than average. Things will cool off slightly by July 4, but not by much. Tuesday’s forecast calls for clear skies and a high of 94, what most in Idaho would expect for Independence Day celebrations.
The city of Boise is hosting its fireworks display at Ann Morrison Park, as usual, on the Fourth of July, starting at 10:15 p.m. Food and drink vendors, including alcohol, will be on-site at 6 p.m.
As warm as it will be this weekend, it could have been even hotter if not for low-pressure sitting in the Gulf of Alaska. The northerly low-pressure system — often associated with colder temperatures and stormier weather — is providing the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain region with a cooler westerly flow as opposed to warmer air from the southwest, MacFarland said.
“Instead of pulling up very warm air, it’s sort of moderating those temperatures,” MacFarland said. “So they might not reach quite as high as we were initially forecasting or last into the July 4 period. We are going to see that peak over the weekend right now.”
The effect of the low-pressure system can be seen farther west. While areas east of the Cascade Mountain Range will see temperatures soar this weekend, west of the Cascades, such as around Seattle, will have temperatures in the 70s.
This story was originally published June 29, 2023 at 4:00 AM.
