BOISE, Idaho — Only halfway through the month, Boise has recorded the wettest June in decades after rain fell across the Valley for several days.
This month is the third-wettest June on record, according to meteorologist Jim Duthie, with a total of 2.92 inches measured at the Boise Airport since the first of the month - a whopping 2.45 inches above average.
The record-holding June came in 1941, with 3.41 inches of rain, followed by 1958, which saw 2.94 inches. Duthie said that means that if the area gets much precipitation before the end of the month, 2020 could move up into the second spot.
Boise's recent rainy days have also helped fill up nearby reservoirs. Lucky Peak Reservoir is currently 99% full, while Anderson Ranch, Arrowrock, and Lake Lowell are at 87%, 88%, and 90% respectively.
Duthie said those levels are not unusual for this time of year: Runoff is at its highest during May and June, and farmers have largely not yet started drawing off much water for their crops.
Those levels could drop quickly as temperatures rise into the summer, he added.
Although wet weather and soil moisture help prevent fires from spreading, it's too early to know how the rainy June will impact the wildfire season.
A lot of rain can make plants like cheatgrass shoot up quickly, Duthie said. But as it gets hotter, without more rain those plants will turn brown and dry - perfect fuel for spreading a rangeland fire.
For now, it appears that Boise's gray and rainy days are in the rearview - at least for a while. The forecast calls for sunshine and rising temperatures into next week.