Weather experts see a disturbance in the skies. Are storms coming to Boise?
Weather patterns across the southern part of Idaho could create thunderstorms on Thursday evening, with a slight chance of stormy weather in Boise.
Les Colin, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Boise, told the Idaho Statesman that models show Boise with a 35% chance of experiencing smaller thunderstorms in the area, and a 15% chance of getting directly hit by a strong thunderstorm.
While Colin described the chances as “not very high,” he said “the potential is there.”
Colin said the forecast suggests that if the storms occur, the mountains north of Boise would see the most rain, while the Boise area would experience higher winds.
“Our forecast model suggests that strong thunderstorms are possible with wind gusts up to 60 miles an hour,” Colin said by phone.
Should the stormy weather happen, Colin predicted it would hit between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday. The weather would bring a drop in temperatures, likely to the 70s but possibly into the 60s, he said.
A flash-flood watch was issued for the mountains just north and west of Boise for between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday, according to the weather service.
Idahoans near the Oregon border have a stronger chance of experiencing storms, at about 50%, while those in the Magic Valley have a 15% chance, Colin said.
Colin said meteorologists have observed a disturbance in the upper atmosphere caused by cold air moving in and overturning the warm air to create a rising motion.
“There’s a wave coming from the south that’s different from what there was a couple of days ago,” Colin said. “This is going to increase the potential. The air mass is considered unstable, meaning that once it starts rising, it’ll keep rising. When it does that, it creates the thunderstorm clouds, and eventually the thunderstorms.”
