Winter Storm in Idaho, January 23 to 24, 1996

Name: Winter Storm in Idaho, January 23 to 24, 1996
Start: 1996-01-23T07:00
End: 1996-01-24T14:00
Location: Idaho

January 23 to 24, 1996 · NWS BOI · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A strong cold front produced snow and areas of blowing and drifting snow across the state. The areas most affected were in Southern Idaho and in the West Central Mountains.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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: $18,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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.

A strong cold front produced snow and areas of blowing and drifting snow across the state. The areas most affected were in Southern Idaho and in the West Central Mountains. Snow totals included Delamar Mines 12-14 inches with 6 to 8 foot drifts...12 inches at Placerville...10 inches at Idaho City and Ketchum...9 inches at Powell...7 inches at McCall...5 inches Elk River...18 inches at Island Park...9-10 inches at Soda Springs and Ashton...6 inches at Dubois...5 inches at Lava Hot Springs and Inkom and 3-4 inches at Stone, Bancroft, Driggs and Victor. Schools in several areas were closed on the 24th due to new snow and drifting. Interstates 84 and 86 were closed for over 8 hours while a number of state highways and smaller roads were closed for extended periods of times. Strong winds associated with the storm also destoyed a sign in Burley and downed power poles in the Malta area.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Coeur D'Alene Area

When: January 23, 7:00 AM MST to January 24, 2:00 PM MST
Where: Coeur D'Alene Area forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 47.675, -116.700 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern Clearwater Mountains

When: January 23, 7:00 AM MST to January 24, 2:00 PM MST
Where: Northern Clearwater Mountains forecast zone
Property damage: $8,000
Coordinates: 46.674, -115.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Idaho Palouse

When: January 23, 7:00 AM MST to January 24, 2:00 PM MST
Where: Idaho Palouse forecast zone
Coordinates: 47.017, -116.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Eastern Lemhi County

When: January 23, 7:00 AM MST to January 24, 2:00 PM MST
Where: Eastern Lemhi County forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.943, -113.933 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lower Treasure Valley

When: January 23, 7:00 AM MST to January 24, 2:00 PM MST
Where: Lower Treasure Valley forecast zone
Coordinates: 43.746, -116.564 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Central Panhandle Mountains

When: January 23, 7:00 AM MST to January 24, 2:00 PM MST
Where: Central Panhandle Mountains forecast zone
Coordinates: 47.265, -116.491 (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

Every storm in Idaho in 1996 Every state in 1996 This day in weather history Warnings in Idaho, January 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5536241, 5536242, 5536243, 5536244, 5536245, 5536246.