Should We Be Concerned About The Current Drought Conditions?

The entire world watched as Southern California went up in flames, and even today, new fires continue to pop up throughout So. Cal. I don't know about you, but I remember this time last year and the year before that when we had pretty consistent precipitation.

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Idaho's Current Drought Situation

25% of our state is currently in a drought they have classified as D1 (moderate) to D2 (severe). That's roughly 160,000 residents living in drought-affected areas. For comparison, that's more than half of the people living in Boise. Luckily, that's actually down 25% from last week.

Understanding The U.S. Drought Monitor

There are five different levels of drought severity: D0, which means "Abnormally Dry," and D4, which means "Exceptional Drought. " Some areas in Idaho are experiencing severe drought, most of which are in Custer County and Lemhi County. A very small portion of Bonneville County is considered D3, "Extreme Drought."

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Idaho's Precipitation In The Next 7 Days

According to the National Weather Service and Drought.gov, some parts of Idaho will receive 0.01-0.05 inches of precipitation, but the Treasure Valley will remain pretty dry, except for some mountain areas.

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Idaho Is Participating in Dry January

This is the 49th driest January on record since 1895. The total rainfall in January was 22.28 inches, only 1.59 inches below normal. According to KTVB, in 2024, Idaho had 1,452 wildfires that burned 992,824 acres.

 

The state ranks behind three other states for the amount of acreage burned. More than 800 of those fires were started by people. - KTVB

Only time will tell what we can expect for the 2025 fire season, and I'm sure we are all hoping that it won't be as bad as 2024 and that we will continue to precipitate to keep us out of those drought concerns.

15 Signs Idaho Could Be in For a Harsh, Unforgiving Winter

According to the Farmer's Almanac, these are some mostly non-weather signs that Boise could be in for a harsh winter. Have you noticed any of them happening?

Boise, Idaho's 10 Snowiest Winters on Record

According records from the National Weather Service, these were the 10 snowiest winters in Boise's history.

Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart

Never Leave These Items in Your Car in Freezing Idaho Temps

Make sure these items are out of your vehicle or they could be damaged, or damage your car, during a cold snap.

Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart

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