Boise Braces For Severe Winter Weather This Morning

It's officially winter in Idaho as our portion of the state welcomes a rain/snow mix that will impact your morning commute. Other regions of Idaho have been hit with snowfall already, as Christmas is just around the corner. Idaho ski resorts are open from  Bogus Basin to Sun Valley.

Here's a look at our forecast for the next few days.

We'd also like to share several tips on how to drive in snow/rainy conditions.

• Test your battery; battery power drops as the temperature drops
• Make sure the cooling system is in good working order
• Have winter tires with a deeper, more flexible tread put on your car
• If using all-season tires, check the tread on your tires and replace if less than 2/32 of an inch
• Check the tire pressure; tire pressure drops as the temperature drops
• Check your wiper blades and replace if needed
• Add wiper fluid rated for -30 degrees
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze

What to do before hitting the road:

• Clean your car’s external camera lenses and side view mirrors so you’ll be able to see what’s around you
• Remove dirt, ice and snow from sensors to allow the assistive-driving features like automatic emergency braking to work
• In frigid weather, you may want to warm up the car before you drive it
• To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, never leave a vehicle running in your garage – even with the garage door up
• If the forecast looks iffy, wait out the storm if possible; if you must travel, share your travel plans and route with someone before you leave

How to avoid a crash:

• Avoid using cruise control in wintry conditions
• Steer in the direction of a skid, so when your wheels regain traction, you don’t have to over correct to stay in your lane
• Accelerate and decelerate slowly
• Increase following distance to 8 to 10 seconds
• If possible, don't stop when going uphill