Tracking stormy and wet conditions and a major cooldown into the weekend

50% of showers and storms today with a definite drop in temperatures from yesterday. We'll only be in the lower 80's after high pressure scoots east and we manage to come back after clouds and some soaking storms yesterday afternoon. Mild morning with clouds and spotty rain to start, we begin in the 60's and hit the mid 70's by lunch. Our afternoon high at 80 will only drop in the coming days as low pressure eases down from Canada and we grab onto more moisture with some possibilities of soaking rain and storms this weekend. Highs drop to the 70's for the valley along I-15 and 60's in the mountains. Lows into the 40's and 50's with winds gusting to 20-40mph. Clearing out in the Saturday afternoon slot and possibly showers into Sunday and Monday with more seasonal temperatures continuing.

The heat is officially backing off, and after yesterday’s soaking showers and storms, Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming are stepping into a much cooler, wetter weather pattern. We're talking a noticeable change — not just a couple degrees, but a real shift toward fall-like temperatures by the weekend.

EARLY THIS MORNING:
We're waking up in the 50s and 60s, with clouds hanging around and scattered light rain already possible. It’s a gray, damp start in spots, so grab the jacket and maybe the umbrella before heading out. Roads could be wet, especially where yesterday's storms left things saturated.

BY LUNCH:
Temperatures climb into the mid-70s, but the clouds stick around and showers remain possible. This isn't necessarily an all-day washout — it's more of that hit-or-miss Eastern Idaho rain, where one neighborhood gets a downpour while another stays relatively dry.

THIS AFTERNOON:
We've got roughly a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with highs around 80 degrees in the Snake River Plain. That's a big step down from the heat we've been dealing with. Storms could produce brief heavy rain and gusty winds, with the strongest gusts potentially reaching 20–40 mph.

Rainfall will be highly uneven, but most locations could pick up around 0.10–0.30 inches, with locally higher amounts around heavier thunderstorms.

TONIGHT:
The cooler air settles in. Showers taper in some areas, but clouds and moisture remain, with lows dropping into the 40s and 50s. Mountain communities will be noticeably cooler.

SATURDAY:
Here's where you really feel the pattern change.

Low pressure dropping out of Canada pushes farther into the region, dragging cooler air and additional moisture with it. Valley temperatures fall into the 70s, while many mountain communities struggle to get much out of the 60s.

Rain and thunderstorms remain possible through the morning and early afternoon, with another opportunity for soaking rain. Rain totals could reach 0.25–0.50 inches in the wetter spots, with locally heavier amounts where thunderstorms develop.

Then there's some good news for the weekend crowd: Saturday afternoon should trend toward clearing, giving us a better window for outdoor plans.

SUNDAY INTO MONDAY:
Don't put the rain jacket away yet.

A few showers could linger Sunday and Monday, but we're no longer talking about summer heat. Seasonal temperatures settle in, with valley highs generally in the 70s and mountain temperatures in the 60s.

And the mornings? 40s and 50s. That's the kind of change you'll feel walking out the door.

THE EASTERN IDAHO / WESTERN WYOMING BOTTOM LINE

This is a pattern change, not just a one-day cool-down. We're going from summer heat toward a much more seasonal setup, with cooler temperatures, more clouds, additional moisture and occasional soaking showers.

Best outdoor window: Saturday afternoon.
Best chance for rain: Today through Saturday.
Biggest wind concern: Thunderstorms and frontal passages, with gusts 20–40 mph possible.
Wettest locations: Areas underneath slow-moving showers or thunderstorms.
Weekend temperature trend: 70s in the valleys, 60s mountains.

And honestly, after all that heat, a little rain, cooler air and a morning where you actually want a jacket doesn't sound half bad.

Jeff Roper, First Alert Weather