Idaho, 1998

Heavy Snow in Idaho, December 24 to 25, 1998

December 24 to 25, 1998 · NWS BOI · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Starting on Christmas Eve and lasting through much of Christmas Day a strong pacific storm dumped heavy snow over much of south western Idaho. In the Treasure Valley Boise received 6 inches of snow, the Caldwell area received 6 to 7 inches with as much as 10 inches falling near Weiser.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

Starting on Christmas Eve and lasting through much of Christmas Day a strong pacific storm dumped heavy snow over much of south western Idaho. In the Treasure Valley Boise received 6 inches of snow, the Caldwell area received 6 to 7 inches with as much as 10 inches falling near Weiser. Traffic was severely disrupted in the Boise area on Christmas eve with over 30 accidents reported in a 90 minute period. The central mountains received the heaviest snow fall with 10 inches reported at Smith's Ferry, Deadwood and Idaho City. In the Boise Mountains Placerville received 17 inches. In the Southwest Highlands of Idaho, Murphy received 6 inches of new snow from this storm.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Lower Treasure Valley

When
December 24, 3:00 PM MST to December 25, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Lower Treasure Valley forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.746, -116.564 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, West Central Mountains

When
December 24, 3:00 PM MST to December 25, 6:00 PM MST
Where
West Central Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
44.543, -116.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Boise Mountains

When
December 24, 3:00 PM MST to December 25, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Boise Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.602, -115.335 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Upper Treasure Valley

When
December 24, 3:00 PM MST to December 25, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Upper Treasure Valley forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
43.129, -115.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southwest Highlands

When
December 24, 3:00 PM MST to December 25, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Southwest Highlands forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.582, -116.170 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Idaho in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, December 1998

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: 5675347, 5675348, 5675349, 5675350, 5675351.