It’s no secret that Boise is a beautiful place to live, but did you know that it also has some pretty amazing winters? In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the fun facts about winter in Idaho’s capital city. From skiing and snowboarding to ice skating and Christmas lights, there’s always something to do in Boise during the winter months!
How much snow does Boise, Idaho get?
Yes, it does snow in the winter in Boise. According to weather.gov, Boise experiences around 20 inches of snow per year. This number can also range from just a few inches to nearly 40 inches of snow! Of course, this snow doesn’t typically happen all at once, but spread out throughout the winter months.
Generally, most of the snowfall in Boise will occur during December and January. These two months usually get over half of the year’s total snowfall.
November, February and March have lower levels of snow, and October and April generally rarely get snow.
What are the temperatures during the winter in Boise?
Since Boise does get a decent amount of snow, it’s no surprise that temperatures in the winter are generally around freezing.
During the peak snow months, December and January, you can typically expect to have temperatures with lows in the 20s and highs nearing 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
November, February and March are milder with lows in the high-20s and highs going all the way up to around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to weather.gov, the record low temperature for Boise was -25 degrees Fahrenheit on December 22, 1990. Sub-zero temperatures are fairly rare for Boise though. For a 17 year span (1991 to 2008) only a single sub-zero temperature was recorded at the Boise Airport.
You might also like…
What can you do in Boise when it shows? Winter Activities for the Family
The state of Idaho is known for its many outdoor activities during all four seasons. And its capital, Boise, is no different. There are plenty of things you can do when it snows in Boise. Some examples include:
- Iceskating
- Winter activities at Bogus Basin (a ski resort northeast of Boise)
- Snowshoe or cross-country ski
- Look at Christmas lights
- Sledding
In addition to these fun outdoor activities, Boise also offers a vibrant restaurant scene, and many other indoor activities, if you’d rather stay indoors, including movie theaters, recreational activities such as bowling, museums and more.
How far is Boise from Bogus Basin?
Boise is located in the Treasure Valley in Idaho. Set in the southwest region of the state, Boise is near the Boise National Forest, but also not too far from the Oregon border.
Bogus Basin — known as a Mountain Recreation Area and Ski Resort — is a mere 18 miles away from downtown Boise. The drive takes about 45 minutes. Check out the Bogus Basin website here.
Conclusion
As you can see, Boise does get a decent amount of snow in the winter, particularly in December and January. Boise is more mild in climate than some other areas of the state of Idaho though, and there are plenty of activities to do even when it snows in Boise.
