Idaho, 1999

Winter Storm and Damaging Winds in Idaho, February 9 to 10, 1999

February 9 to 10, 1999 · NWS PIH · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A winter storm brought widespread heavy snow to the mountains of Eastern Idaho. Accumulation was generally reported in the 6 to 8 inch range, including at the towns of Arco, Soda Springs, Carey and Spencer.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
$50,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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 PIH wrote it up.

A winter storm brought widespread heavy snow to the mountains of Eastern Idaho. Accumulation was generally reported in the 6 to 8 inch range, including at the towns of Arco, Soda Springs, Carey and Spencer. Higher accumlation of up to 12 inches were reported in Sun Valley and the Stanley Basin. Icy roads resulted in numerous slide offs, including more than 30 along I-84 alone. One accident due to icy roads resulted in two fatalities. The strong cold front that accompanied this storm helped trigger rare winter thunderstorms. Winds from one thunderstorm tore the roof off of a mobile home and twisted farm irrigation piping, near Pingree 12 miles southwest of Blackfoot. Thunderstorm wind also tore the roof off of a farm lambing shed near Idaho Falls.

The radar

The Pocatello radar (KSFX), 7 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:36 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 winter storm, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Big and Little Wood River Region

When
February 9, 5:00 AM MST to February 10, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Big and Little Wood River Region forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm, Caribou Highlands

When
February 9, 5:00 AM MST to February 10, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Caribou Highlands forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm, Lost River / Pahsimeroi

When
February 9, 5:00 AM MST to February 10, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Lost River / Pahsimeroi forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm, Sawtooth Mountains

When
February 9, 5:00 AM MST to February 10, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Sawtooth Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm, Upper Snake Highlands

When
February 9, 5:00 AM MST to February 10, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Upper Snake Highlands forecast zone
Property damage
$40,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind, Bingham

When
February 9, 5:35 PM MST
Where
Bingham County, 3 mi S of Pingree
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.070, -112.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Bonneville

When
February 9, 6:45 PM MST
Where
Bonneville County, 6 mi NE of Idaho Falls
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.550, -111.950

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Idaho in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, February 1999

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: 5689283, 5689284, 5689285, 5689287, 5689288, 5689286, 5689289.