Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Garden City, ID

KEY MESSAGES
- A significant pattern change begins today as a cool upper level trough pushes a cold front through, bringing widespread showers, scattered thunderstorms and cooler temperatures.

- Scattered thunderstorms this afternoon into early Saturday could produce strong outflow winds, small hail and brief heavy rain.

- Temperatures around 15 to 20 degrees below normal Saturday and Sunday.

- Significant precipitation and light snow above 7000 feet possible Saturday through Sunday.

SHORT TERM /Through Sunday Night/
Issued 253 AM MDT FRI JUN 26 2026 A major pattern change is knocking on the door this morning as an area of low pressure dives southward into the Pacific Northwest. The low looks impressive on satellite, and precipitation is filling in across the region. The cold front associated with the low is expected to work through eastern Oregon and southwest Idaho this morning, and will serve as an initial focus of precipitation. As the cold core of the low moves overhead this afternoon scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop. Model derived soundings show a prolonged period of unstable conditions beginning mid afternoon and lingering into the overnight hours. Enough instability is forecast to support strong gusty winds and small hail with the strongest storms. Guidance suggests a 30-40% chance of gusts greater than 30-35 mph. Anyone with outdoor plans this evening will need to monitor storm activity closely.
The combination of abundant lightning and gusty winds will lead to a period of critical fire weather conditions this afternoon and evening.

The low is forecast to settle over Idaho this weekend with significantly cooler temperatures expected. High temperatures are only expected to reach the mid to lower 60s in the warmest spots, and snow levels will drop to 6500-7000 feet by Sunday afternoon. Current projections place the best chances for precipitation this weekend over central and eastern Idaho.

LONG TERM /Monday through Friday/
Issued 253 AM MDT FRI JUN 26 2026 Very good agreement amongst ensemble members that a broad-scale trough of low pressure will dominate the pattern across the west next week. This will keep temperatures below normal, with only a slow warming trend expected throughout the week. Temperatures will approach normal by Thursday/Friday. At this point the week looks to be on the drier side, with our next best shot of precipitation possible late in the week. With the through in place, it stands to reason that isolated terrain driven showers/thunderstorms will be a possibility each afternoon.

AVIATION /12Z Friday through Saturday/
Issued 622 AM MDT FRI JUN 26 2026 Generally VFR, with areas of MVFR/IFR possible in and around showers and thunderstorms. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Gusty and erratic winds near storms, along with obscured terrain. Outflow winds of 30-40 kt possible. Surface winds outside of storms: NW 10-20 kt with gusts to 20-35 kt following frontal passage this morning and in virga/showers. Then variable 5-15 kt this afternoon. Winds aloft at 10kft MSL: Variable 5-20 kt.

KBOI...Generally VFR. Frontal passage this AM then increasing clouds and shower activity through the day. Showers and thunderstorms peak mid to late afternoon into the early evening.
Strong and erratic winds expected near storms. Outflow winds of 30-40 kt possible. Surface winds outside of storms: NW-N 10-20 kt, gusts to 25-30 kt with virga/showers/cold front this morning. Then variable under 8 kt this afternoon.

Weekend Outlook...Showers and thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday.
Brief MVFR/IFR possible in heavy rain or snow, esp over mtns.
Mountains obscured. Snow levels temporarily lowering to 6500-7500ft MSL Sunday morning. Gusty west-northwest surface winds during the afternoons.

BOI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
ID...Red Flag Warning from noon today to 6 AM MDT Saturday for IDZ400-420-423-424-426.
OR...Red Flag Warning from noon MDT /11 AM PDT/ today to 6 AM MDT /5 AM PDT/ Saturday for ORZ670>674.