Idaho, 1998

Heavy Snow in Idaho, January 9 to 11, 1998

January 9 to 11, 1998 · NWS BOI · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A moist pacific storm system swept over central and southern Idaho, beginning over the western zones on the night of January 9th and reaching the eastern zones on the 10th. Heavy snow was reported from numerous mountain locations.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
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 moist pacific storm system swept over central and southern Idaho, beginning over the western zones on the night of January 9th and reaching the eastern zones on the 10th. Heavy snow was reported from numerous mountain locations. In Idaho's central mountains Placerville reported 12 inches, Ellis reported 10 to 12 inches , 13 to 15 inches fell at Cascade, 12 inches at Smith's Ferry with 12 inches at Council. In the Upper Snake Highlands 8 inches fell near Driggs with blowing snow resulting in almost zero visibility. Victor reported 12 inches. The heaviest amounts fell in the South Central and South Eastern Highlands of Idaho with Pomerelle reporting a storm total of 40 inches. Twenty inches fell at Wayan and 18 inches fell at Inkom. Soda Springs reported 12 inches.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, West Central Mountains

When
January 9, 10:00 PM MST to January 11, 12:00 PM MST
Where
West Central Mountains forecast zone
Coordinates
44.543, -116.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Boise Mountains/Camas Prairie

When
January 9, 10:00 PM MST to January 11, 12:00 PM MST
Where
Boise Mountains/Camas Prairie forecast zone
Coordinates
43.602, -115.335 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Salmon/Sawtooth Mountains

When
January 10, 12:00 AM MST to January 11, 12:00 PM MST
Where
Salmon/Sawtooth Mountains forecast zone

Heavy Snow, Upper Snake Highlands

When
January 10, 9:00 PM MST to January 11, 9:00 PM MST
Where
Upper Snake Highlands forecast zone

Heavy Snow, South Central Highlands

When
January 10, 9:00 PM MST to January 11, 9:00 PM MST
Where
South Central Highlands forecast zone

Heavy Snow, Caribou Highlands

When
January 10, 9:00 PM MST to January 11, 9:00 PM MST
Where
Caribou Highlands forecast zone

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, January 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: 5627699, 5627700, 5627701, 5627702, 5627703, 5627704.