The Treasure Valley experienced its first significant snowfall of 2025 on Feb. 6-7, breaking a prolonged period of unseasonably warm and dry conditions.
The long-awaited snowfall transformed Bogus Basin’s ski slopes overnight, offering a much-needed reprieve for skiers and snowboarders who had been anxiously waiting for major snowfall to arrive.
“I went up to Bogus Basin last Friday when it poured down snow, and it was a pretty awesome experience,” said Eli Egging, a frequent skier. “Me and some friends usually ski once or twice a week, and I was looking forward to skiing down those fresh slopes.”
Despite perceptions of an unusual winter, weather specialists say snowfall totals are not far from average but changes in how the snow arrives may be what’s making this season feel different.
The major snowfall on Feb. 7 raised Boise’s seasonal total to 9.9 inches, which is on par with historical averages for this time of year, according to Monthly Seasonal Snow. While past winters have varied, the main difference this season hasn’t been the total snow, but the inconsistency in when and how it has fallen.
“At this point in the winter, we’re just slightly above average,” said Jen Pierce, a Boise State professor in the Department of Geosciences. “We started below average, but now we’re right around where we should be.”
The shift in snowfall patterns — long dry spells followed by sudden storms — could raise concern about how Idaho’s winters might change in the coming decades.
One noticeable impact this winter has been mild icy slope conditions at Bogus Basin and other ski resorts. Skiers and snowboarders say the conditions have been trickier than usual.
“Can’t say I’ve noticed a huge shift in icier slopes overall, but yeah, there’s definitely more ice compared to last year,” said Giovanni Ferraro, a casual skier at Bogus Basin. “I try to ski through trees where there isn’t as much ice, but it’s noticeable.”
Pierce explained that more rain in the winter, rather than snow, can lead to icer conditions — something Boise has seen this season.
“It’s not unusual to get rain-on-snow events,” said Pierce. “Rain on an unstable snowpack can actually help stabilize it, but it also creates icy layers that stick around.”
Historically, Boise’s snowfall has varied, with 27.3 inches recorded between early December by late February, but lower totals in other years.
With more snowfall set to arrive within the next few weeks, Boise’s snowfall total is bound to increase and match past years’ totals.
However, global warming trends have played a factor in temperature changes and the amount of precipitation too.
“Globally, the entire planet is getting warmer due to the greenhouse effects,” said Pierce. “That doesn’t mean we won’t have cold years, but overall, average temperatures in Boise are increasing and that affects precipitation patterns.”
Rather than seeing less snow overall, Boise might experience more of its winter precipitation falling as rain instead of snow in the future.
“We can expect average temperatures to continue increasing in the coming decades,” Pierce said. “That means we’ll receive more of our precipitation as rain instead of snow, especially at lower elevations.”
But the recent snowfall last Friday posed a relief for many skiers and snowboarders who go up to Bogus Basin several times a week to shred the slopes.
“I’ve been really eager and anxious waiting for the snow this season,” said Ferraro. “I just want there to be more.”
Even though snowfall levels are average, the timing and quality of the snow have changed, affecting recreational activities.
“We’ve had a blast skiing, but there are some concerns with the conditions — it can pose a threat to beginners, but you just have to embrace it and have fun,” Egging added.
However, concerns remain about what future winters might look like.
“Even though there’s been less snow this year, I still had a fun time skiing,” Ferraro said. “I’m not too worried about future winters. Or at least, I won’t be worried until the day it affects my personal experience.”
Egging follows up with his mild concern about the bigger picture: “I feel like it would be safe to worry about the future. Even though it was okay in Bogus, I still noticed a significant lack of snow in Boise, and maybe that’s something researchers should investigate.”
With February underway, will Boise see more snowfall, or was this storm an exception?
“It’s always hard to predict exactly what the rest of winter would look like, though the lack of snow in December, that’s not unusual,” said Pierce. “We tend to get a lot of precipitation in February and March so expect more of that in the coming weeks. However, in the long run, weather trends look to be getting warmer.”
This suggests that Boise winters may continue to see normal snowfall levels, but it could be delivered in less predictable ways — bipolar weather that consists of long dry periods followed by bursts of heavy snow or rain.
As Boise residents adapt to changing weather patterns, the conversation isn’t about whether snow is disappearing, it’s about whether Idaho winters will continue to feel different, even if the totals stay the same.
This winter serves as a reminder that climate change doesn’t always mean less snow, it can also mean more inconsistency. Whether that will impact Idaho’s winter recreation or seasonal expectations, remains a question for the future.
