Cold front brings temperature drop and possible storms to for Labor Day

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)- Scattered showers and thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are expected across the region tonight through Labor Day morning. A passing cold front will drop temperatures by 10 to 20 degrees on Monday, with a marginal risk of severe storms.

Storm coverage will increase overnight from the south and across the central mountains. While overall rainfall totals remain light, gusty winds outside of thunderstorm activity are forecast to persist through Labor Day as the low pressure system crosses the area.

The potential for severe weather is primarily concentrated in the southeast highlands, though strong winds remain possible elsewhere before midnight. The best chances for wind gusts more than 35 mph are in the Snake Plain, Magic Valley and southeast highlands, while gusts exceeding 40 mph could develop across the Arco Desert behind the cold front. Outside of storm activity, breezy conditions will persist through Labor Day with southwest winds from 21 to 24 mph and gusts reaching up to 34 mph.

Rainfall totals are expected to be light across most of the area, generally measuring between a couple of hundredths of an inch and 0.15 inches. Select areas, including the southeast corner, the Big Holes and regions north of Stanley through the Frank Church Wilderness, could receive up to 0.30 inches of precipitation. At higher elevations, the central mountains are expected to see a period of rain and snow above 10,000 feet tonight through Monday morning.

Valley high temperatures on Labor Day will sit between the 50s and 60s, with a few low 70s expected near the Utah border south of the Snake Plain. Showers and storm activity are forecast to taper off by late Monday afternoon. Conditions will dry out quickly after Labor Day, with temperatures rebounding into the 70s and 80s by Wednesday and Thursday under mostly sunny skies.

Showers and thunderstorms are forecast to end late Monday afternoon, leading to mostly clear skies Monday night with low temperatures dropping to around 43 degrees. Sunny conditions and a warming trend will continue through at least Thursday, with highs reaching 80 degrees.