Winter Storm, Northern Panhandle
- When
- December 28, 5:00 PM PST to December 29, 10:00 AM PST
- Where
- Northern Panhandle forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 48.247, -116.588 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm in Idaho, December 28 to 29, 1996
Another winter storm pounded the Northern Idaho Panhandle. Boundary county was declared in a State of Emergency.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS BOI wrote it up.
Another winter storm pounded the Northern Idaho Panhandle. Boundary county was declared in a State of Emergency. Schools had over 4 feet of snow on them, the National Guard was called in for snow removal. Many roads were closed and air traffic delayed due to blizzard conditions. Eight to ten inches of new snow fell throughout the panhandle. More roofs collasped in the Coeur d'Alene area. I-90 was closed due to ice buildup on the roadway.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
3 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Winter Storm, Coeur D'Alene Area
- When
- December 28, 5:00 PM PST to December 29, 10:00 AM PST
- Where
- Coeur D'Alene Area forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 47.675, -116.700 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Idaho Palouse
- When
- December 28, 5:00 PM PST to December 29, 10:00 AM PST
- Where
- Idaho Palouse forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 47.017, -116.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Heavy Snow in Washington, December 28 to 30, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Washington, December 28 to 29, 1996
- Dense Fog in Florida, December 28, 1996
- High Surf in Hawaii, December 28 to 29, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Montana, December 28, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Washington, December 28 to 29, 1996
- High Wind in Oregon, December 28, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Montana, December 28, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Montana, December 28, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Montana, December 28, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Montana, December 28, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Montana, December 28, 1996
More
Every storm in Idaho in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, December 1996
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5579950, 5579951, 5579952.