Rain, snow heading to Idaho as weather makes ‘significant’ change. Here’s when

After an unseasonably warm and dry Valentine’s Day, a storm system will settle across Idaho, meteorologists say.

The Gem State will experience “a brief dry spell on Friday as a weak line moves up,” the National Weather Service said in the latest Idaho State Forecast Discussion.

“A more significant shift in the weather pattern will arrive this weekend and persist early next week as a series of Pacific storms move in,” the weather service said in the forecast, published Friday, February 13.

Here’s what to expect:

When will Idaho see rain? Snow?

“Scattered precipitation” is expected Presidents Day – Monday, February 16 – through Wednesday, February 18, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

Snow levels will remain at elevations between 3,500 and 5,000 feet, which means “most key valley locations” will see rain or a mix of rain and snow, according to the forecast.

Central and northern Idaho will likely see “the heaviest accumulation of snow in the mountains,” the weather service said.

According to National Weather Service meteorologist Les Colin, all of Idaho will get a chance for snow later in the week — including the valleys.

“The mountains will get the most but even down in the valleys, I think it’s reasonable to expect at least an inch of snow late in the week,” Colin told the Idaho Statesman by phone.

Those flows will come down primarily Thursday, February 19, to Friday, February 20, he said.

“Temperatures will remain near or slightly above seasonal normal through the weekend before a cooling trend begins midweek,” the weather service said.

What is the weather forecast for Boise?

The Boise area was expected to be mostly sunny on Friday, February 13, according to the National Weather Service’s latest seven-day forecast.

The high temperature will be near 47 degrees, and the overnight low will hover around 37 degrees.

Clouds will move in Saturday just in time for Valentine’s Day, which will have a high of 54 and a low of 38, the weather service said.

Sunday will bring the sun back to Boise. Temperatures will reach 56 during the day and drop to 36 overnight.

Boise residents can expect more sunny weather on Monday with a high around 58 before rain moves in around 11 pm

There is a 60% chance of precipitation Monday night, when the overnight low will be around 37.

During the rest of the week, highs are expected to gradually drop from the 50s to low 30s, while lows will fall from the 30s to the low 20s.

How long will the cold and wet weather last?

According to Colin, Idaho will see rain and snow for most of the week.

“It will be drier next weekend, and it will gradually warm up, but most of the precipitation will arrive during the week before the weekend,” said the meteorologist.