‘Dangerous’ heat wave could bring Boise its hottest-ever temperature. Here’s when and how
The much-anticipated western United States heat wave finally arrived in Boise on Monday, and it will only get hotter as the week progresses.
Temperatures peaked at 101 degrees on Monday afternoon. If forecasts from the National Weather Service hold up, that was the “coolest” high-temperature for Boise until at least Sunday.
The Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for the Treasure Valley starting at 11 a.m. Tuesday and lasting through the end of the day Friday. The temperature hit 100 by 2 p.m. Tuesday. The warning details “dangerously hot conditions” that “will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses.”
An excessive heat watch — a step down from the warning — has been issued for Saturday and Sunday. The watch continues to warn residents about dangerously high temperatures.
Boise’s hottest-ever temperature
The heat wave, resulting from a high-pressure system trapping the sun’s heat near the surface, could cause Boise to experience its hottest temperature on record.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Boise since tracking began in 1875 is 111 degrees, set on July 12, 1898. Boise’s forecast high for Wednesday — just two days shy of the 126-year anniversary of that Boise heat — is 108, but there’s a good chance the City of Trees could get even hotter.
Korri Anderson, a meteorologist for the Weather Service in Boise, told the Idaho Statesman that there’s a 45% chance that Boise could equal the record and a 30% chance that it could surpass it.
Even if Boise doesn’t match its hottest-ever temperature, it’s likely to break the record for the most consecutive days at or above 103 degrees. The record of four straight days has been matched on eight occasions, the most recent coming in 2022, according to Anderson.
The forecast high for Tuesday was 105, and the Weather Service doesn’t see the high temperature dropping below 103 until at least Sunday, when the forecasting model stops. That means Boise could get six straight days of 103 degrees or hotter — and potentially even longer.
The start of wildfire smoke
If the historically hot temperatures don’t remind you it’s summertime, the wildfire smoke starting to drift in Idaho’s direction certainly will.
Multiple fires from Idaho’s westbound neighbors are sending smoke toward the Treasure Valley and other parts of the Gem State.
Anderson said the Pioneer Fire in central Washington is pushing smoke toward north-central Idaho. He also noted that the Shelly Fire in California and Salt Creek Fire in Oregon are also sending wildfire smoke Idaho’s way, but that smoke likely won’t impact the Treasure Valley too much.
“It looks like (the smoke) is getting pushed off to the south and east,” Anderson said. “So I don’t think it’s going to be a big impact. It’s just going to make the skies a little bit more gray, I would guess. But it’s not that big; it’s starting to wane on the satellite.”
This story was originally published July 8, 2024 at 12:31 PM.
