Winter Storm in Idaho, December 4 to 5, 1996

Name: Winter Storm in Idaho, December 4 to 5, 1996
Start: 1996-12-04T18:00
End: 1996-12-05T11:00
Location: Idaho

December 4 to 5, 1996 · NWS BOI · 14 events in 14 counties and zones

On December 4th through the 5th another winter storm moved through the state. This storm produced 7 to 14 inches of new snow in Zones 11 and 13.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 14

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.

On December 4th through the 5th another winter storm moved through the state. This storm produced 7 to 14 inches of new snow in Zones 11 and 13. Some totals included: New Meadows at 14 inches, Fairfield at 12 inches, and 10 inches at Cascade, Placerville and Council. This storm produced 2 to 6 inches of new snow in the Southwest valleys. Six inches fell at Payette and Weiser, 3 inches at New Plymouth and 2 inches fell at Boise and Parma. In the Magic Valley, 6 inches fell at Gooding, Hagerman, Shoshone and Murphey Hot Springs. In the Southwest Highlands, 8 inches fell at Silver City and 6 inches fell at Delmar Mine and Castleford. In the North, winds gusting to 70 mph at Grangeville caused zero visiblity in blowing snow. As the storm moved East, one foot of snow fell at McCammon in Bannock county and winds gusting to 58 mph occured just north of Pocatello. Schools were closed in Idaho Falls and I84 was closed from Burley to Pocatello. In Oneida county, a foot of new snow also fell and schools were closed due to blowing snow, many roads were impassable. Schools were also closed in Cassia county. Most locations across the southeast received 4 to 10 inches of new snow.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, West Central Mountains

When: December 4, 6:00 PM MST to December 5, 11:00 AM MST
Where: West Central Mountains forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.543, -116.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Boise Mountains

When: December 4, 6:00 PM MST to December 5, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Boise Mountains forecast zone
Coordinates: 43.602, -115.335 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern Panhandle

When: December 4, 6:00 PM MST to December 5, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Northern Panhandle forecast zone
Coordinates: 48.247, -116.588 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Central Panhandle Mountains

When: December 4, 6:00 PM MST to December 5, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Central Panhandle Mountains forecast zone
Coordinates: 47.265, -116.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lower Treasure Valley

When: December 4, 6:00 PM MST to December 5, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Lower Treasure Valley forecast zone
Coordinates: 43.746, -116.564 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Upper Treasure Valley

When: December 4, 6:00 PM MST to December 5, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Upper Treasure Valley forecast zone
Coordinates: 43.129, -115.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Orofino / Grangeville Region

When: December 4, 6:00 PM MST to December 5, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Orofino / Grangeville Region forecast zone
Measured: 70
Coordinates: 46.259, -115.562 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Upper Snake River Plain

When: December 4, 6:00 PM MST to December 5, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Upper Snake River Plain forecast zone

Winter Storm, South Central Highlands

When: December 4, 6:00 PM MST to December 5, 11:00 AM MST
Where: South Central Highlands forecast zone

Winter Storm, Southwest Highlands

When: December 4, 6:00 PM MST to December 5, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Southwest Highlands forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.582, -116.170 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Western Magic Valley

When: December 4, 6:00 PM MST to December 5, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Western Magic Valley forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.672, -114.581 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lower Snake River Plain

When: December 4, 6:00 PM MST to December 5, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Lower Snake River Plain forecast zone

Winter Storm, Caribou Highlands

When: December 4, 6:00 PM MST to December 5, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Caribou Highlands forecast zone
Measured: 58

Winter Storm, Upper Snake Highlands

When: December 4, 6:00 PM MST to December 5, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Upper Snake Highlands forecast zone

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

Every storm in Idaho in 1996 Every state in 1996 This day in weather history Warnings 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: 5579537, 5579538, 5579539, 5579540, 5579541, 5579542, 5579543, 5579544, 5579545, 5579546, 5579547, 5579548, 5579549, 5579550.