Red Flag Warning Covers Parts of Southwest Idaho as Cold Front Brings Heat, Wind and Storm Chances

A cold front moving through Idaho and eastern Oregon on Wednesday is set to bring a mix of weather, including hot temperatures, gusty winds, heightened fire danger and a chance of thunderstorms.

The best chance for showers and thunderstorms is across east-central Oregon and west-central Idaho during the afternoon and evening. The Treasure Valley and areas farther south face only a slight chance of seeing a storm. Any that form are expected to be high-based, so lightning and strong wind gusts are the main concerns rather than heavy rain. Some storms could produce outflow winds of up to 40 mph and patches of blowing dust.

Even away from thunderstorms, it will be a windy day, with gusts of 20 to 35 mph expected throughout. As the front passes through in the evening, gusts could climb to around 40 mph in some places. Drivers are urged to be ready for sudden drops in visibility where dust is kicked up, particularly in open and agricultural areas.

Hot temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds have combined to create critical fire weather conditions across parts of the Owyhee Mountains and the Magic Valley. A red flag warning takes effect Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. in those areas.

Under those conditions, any fire that starts could spread quickly. Residents are encouraged to avoid activities that could throw off sparks and to take extra care when outdoors.

Cooler temperatures will follow the front Wednesday night and into Thursday, though breezy conditions are expected to continue, especially east of Boise and across the Magic Valley.

Temperatures are forecast to rebound on Friday. Another weather system is then due to arrive over the weekend, bringing cooler-than-normal readings and the potential for strong winds again. Saturday looks to be the windiest day, with gusts possibly reaching 30 to 45 mph.