Skiers, rejoice! Christmas week rain in Boise, but Bogus, Brundage to be buried in snow
The Treasure Valley won’t enjoy a white Christmas, but those traveling to the Idaho mountains for some winter yuletide fun could see anywhere from 2 to 4 feet of snow this week.
A storm system moving into Southwest Idaho could bring light rain starting Tuesday afternoon before heavier rain moves in at about 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Stephen Parker. He said the rain could continue until 6 a.m. on Christmas Day.
Those in Boise shouldn’t expect too much precipitation, though, with models predicting up to 0.2 inches, Parker said.
“It’s going to be mostly rain Christmas morning,” Parker told the Idaho Statesman by phone. “But there might be a little chance for a flake or two in the air.”
The wet weather could return just before midnight Thursday, with a greater chance of snow at that time.
“Thursday morning, the models are trending colder,” Parker said. “We might actually pick up enough to put a dusting on the ground.”
If it happens, that snow would be Boise’s latest measurable December snowfall since 1958, when the city didn’t see snow until Dec. 30, according to the National Weather Service.
Temperatures this week will be above average for this time of year, with highs in the 40s and possibly even reaching 50, according to Parker.
“That’s a good 10 degrees above normal,” he said.
Last week, Boise broke a record when it reached 59 degrees on Dec. 18, beating the December daily high of 58 set in 1917, according to the weather service.
Bogus, Brundage to see significant snowfall
Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area General Manager Brad Wilson said he was “ready for whatever comes our way.” And what’s coming their way is a ton of snow, which is also what the McCall area will see.
But not quite as much as Bogus, which could see up to 4 feet.
“Just a week ago, we picked up 33 inches in a week, and that opened up 100% the mountain,” Wilson told the Statesman by phone. “After this 2 to 4 feet of snow comes, we’re going to be in just incredible shape going into January. It’s shaping up to be a terrific year.”
Wilson recommended that those headed to the ski resort dress wisely, drive a vehicle that can handle the snow and purchase a lift pass online in advance to guarantee a spot. He said in-person sales are sometimes limited on busy days.
Meteorologist Sophia Adams said the amount of snow per day is difficult to predict, but she was able to provide estimates for skiers. Beginning Tuesday, Adams expects 1-3 inches of snowfall between noon and 10 p.m., and less than an inch on Wednesday.
Thursday will be the heaviest snow day, with 9-12 inches expected between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
A warmer system will begin moving in after that, making for 9-12 inches of heavier, wetter snow on Friday, and 5-8 inches on Saturday, according to Adams.
Temperatures in the Bogus area will start in the mid- to upper 30s Tuesday before dipping to just below freezing Wednesday through Friday. The temperatures are expected to return above freezing over the weekend, according to the weather service.
Farther north, weather forecasters are predicting more than 2 feet in the Brundage Mountain area near McCall over the next several days.
“McCall is probably going to switch over to rain a couple times in the coming week and then switch back to snow,” Parker said.
Parker said a series of storms coming off the Pacific Ocean is what’s bringing all of the wet weather.
“There is a moisture tap that goes way off into the Pacific that’s going to be drawn right up into the Pacific Northwest,” Parker said. “As always happens, the Cascades take (some) of that moisture out, but we’ll still get a good bit of moisture left over here in Idaho.”
This story was originally published December 23, 2024 at 5:50 PM.
