Weather experts predicted Hurricane Hilary would hit Boise hard. Here’s what happened

Many parts of the West have been experiencing the effects of Hilary, and Boise is no exception.

The city received just over 0.4 inches of rain through the night and into Monday morning, National Weather Service meteorologist Jackson Macfarlane told the Idaho Statesman. Parts of the Treasure Valley to the west, including Caldwell, received up to 0.6 inches.

Boiseans can expect another 0.1 inches through Monday and most of the rainy weather should wrap up Tuesday, according to the weather service.

The weather service had expected 0.1 inches of rain between midnight and 6 a.m. on Monday, with another 0.1 inches between 6 a.m. and noon, meteorologist Joel Tannenholz told the Idaho Statesman.

Overall, however, the precipitation started later and came in smaller quantities than initial forecasts indicated last week, Macfarlane said.

Macfarlane explained that “very narrow, concentrated” moisture flows like the one associated with this storm can be hard to predict. Boise was right on the edge of the flow on Sunday.

“Just one small push in either direction can significantly impact the precipitation in that direction,” Jackson said.

Farther to the west, Ontario, Oregon, saw 1.4 inches of rain through Monday afternoon.

Hurricane Hilary was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Experts initially predicted that Boise would receive up to an inch of rain, in part to the National Hurricane Center forecasting that Southwest Idaho would be inside Hilary’s cone of uncertainty. The cone of uncertainty is a forecasting tool to show the approximate path of a hurricane or tropical storm.

Despite the worst of Hilary missing Boise, a flood watch remained in effect for several Idaho communities, including Caldwell, McCall and Stanley. A flood watch is issued when it seems likely that flooding could occur but is not a guarantee.

The National Weather Service placed Boise under a wind advisory Monday, with winds between 20 mph to 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph. Winds were gusting at 49 mph from the Boise Foothills on Monday, the weather service said.

“Highs will stay around 80 degrees through Wednesday, staying moderated thanks to the moisture and overcast cloud cover,” Macfarlane said.