Idaho Climate
Top 5 Cities: Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello
This month in numbers
Idaho experienced its 29th warmest April on record, with an average temperature of 5.61°C, which is 0.9°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. Maximum temperatures for April were also notably higher, ranking 24th warmest at 12.56°C, a 1.4°C anomaly. Precipitation for April was above average, ranking 20th wettest with 65.28 mm, an increase of 14.4 mm compared to the baseline. Globally, April 2026 was the 2nd warmest April on record for land temperatures, with an anomaly of +1.1°C.
What changed
The period from February to April 2026 was Idaho's 3rd warmest on record, with an average temperature of 4°C, a significant 3.1°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. Maximum temperatures for this three-month span also ranked 3rd warmest, reaching 10.34°C, an anomaly of +3.7°C. This warming trend in Idaho contrasts with the national picture, where the US as a whole experienced a +1.9°C anomaly in April. Idaho's 12-month rolling anomaly places it as the 20th warmest out of 234 regions, indicating a sustained warming trend.
What’s driving change?
Idaho is currently grappling with widespread drought conditions, with approximately 79% of the state experiencing active drought as of May 12, 2026, and an additional 21% classified as abnormally dry. This includes areas of severe, extreme, and exceptional drought. The state experienced its second-warmest winter on record, leading to historically low snowpack and snow water equivalent levels by April 1. This snow drought has prompted a statewide drought emergency declaration, allowing for water right adjustments and federal assistance. The lack of snow and early melt-out are significant factors contributing to the current , which is exacerbating warming and increasing wildfire risk. Indeed, there has been an unusual concentration of wildfire activity recently, with four wildfire events occurring between May 14 and May 21, representing 100% of the annual total for Idaho. This early start to the wildfire season is a major concern for agencies across southern Idaho. The current ENSO state is Neutral, but forecasts indicate an 82% probability of El Niño developing by May-Jul, rising to 98% by Aug-Oct. El Niño typically brings warmer, drier conditions to the Pacific Northwest, which could further intensify drought and wildfire risks in the coming months. For more information on extreme weather events, visit Extreme Weather tracker, and for ENSO updates, see ENSO tracker.
Looking ahead
Forecasts suggest mostly warmer and drier than normal conditions will persist through the summer, raising additional concerns about drought and wildfire danger.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
Loading climate data...
Data Sources
Data Sources for Idaho
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) — see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Idaho changing?
Idaho is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The trend rate is shown as °C per decade in the headline panel; you can also see the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for Idaho come from?
Climate data for Idaho comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Idaho climate data cover?
The Idaho climate profile covers Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Idaho Falls and surrounding areas. Idaho climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the Idaho climate update refreshed?
The Idaho climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.