Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Idaho, January 26 to 28, 2008

Name: Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Idaho, January 26 to 28, 2008
Start: 2008-01-26T12:00
End: 2008-01-28T05:00
Location: Idaho

January 26 to 28, 2008 · NWS MSO · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

On January 26 through 28, a very moist Pacific storm system moved across North Central Idaho and produced heavy snowfall amounts in the mountains.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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: 3

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 MSO wrote it up.

On January 26 through 28, a very moist Pacific storm system moved across North Central Idaho and produced heavy snowfall amounts in the mountains.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Missoula, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 26, 11:05 AM PST, 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 26, 11:05 AM PST, 55 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 26, 4:41 AM PST, 7 hours 19 minutes before

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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 heavy snow, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Northern Clearwater Mountains

When: January 26, 12:00 PM PST to January 27, 8:00 PM PST
Where: Northern Clearwater Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 46.674, -115.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Idaho Department of Transportation reported 10 inches of new snowfall accumulations between the Elk River and the Clearwater County line. Headquarters received 6 inches of new snowfall accumulations.

Heavy Snow, Southern Clearwater Mountains

When: January 26, 12:00 PM PST to January 27, 11:00 PM PST
Where: Southern Clearwater Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 45.844, -115.467 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The US Highway 12 corridor between Powell and Lolo Pass received between 7.2 and 9 inches of new snow.

Winter Storm, Eastern Lemhi County

When: January 27, 1:00 PM MST to January 28, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Eastern Lemhi County forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 44.943, -113.933 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lost Trail Pass received 12 inches of new snow from this event. Significant blowing and drifting snow was reported in Leadore where school was closed for the day due to the winter storm. Wind gusts across the area ranged from 36 mph to 52 mph.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
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 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Idaho, January 2008

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: 68607, 68609, 68614.