A very strong cold front moved through eastern Idaho on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving with extremely heavy snowfall, strong winds and widespread blizzard conditions throughout the entire region. All roads in Bingham County were closed.
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.
The episode as NWS PIH wrote it up.
A very strong cold front moved through eastern Idaho on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving with extremely heavy snowfall, strong winds and widespread blizzard conditions throughout the entire region. All roads in Bingham County were closed. Interstate 15 was closed from Idaho Falls north to the Montana border. US highway 20 was closed from INL east and north to the Montana border. Highways 32, 33, 47, and 87 were all closed. Interstate 84 was closed from the junction of Interstate 86 to the Utah border. US Highway 30 closed between milsposts 228 and 252 from Murtaugh to Burley. Madison, Jefferson, West Jefferson, Fremont, Blackfoot, Firth, Snake River, Sugar-Salem, Aberdeen, American Falls, Butte, North Gem, Pocatello/Chubbuck, Franklin County, and Sho-Ban school districts were all closed for the day. Overall 25 to 35 mph sustained winds and 50 to 60 mph wind gusts were comon place causing the road closures. The Snake River Plain and Eastern Magic Valley received 2 to 5 inches of snow with the Pocatello and Idaho Falls airports receiving several wind gusts over 50 mph as well above 50 mph gusts reported at Fort Hall and Blackfoot. Hailey reported 12 inches of snow. Bear Canyon had 18 inches, Stinckney Mill 11 inches, Smiley Mountain 19 inches, Mill Creek Summit 18 inches. 19 inches fell at Dollarhide with 17 inches at Galena Summit, 12 inches at Garfield Ranger Station, 11 inches at Lost Wood Divide, and 15 inches at Swede Peak. Hilt's Creek reported 20 inches with 12 inches at Meadow Lake, and 9 inches at Moonshine. Crab Creek had 16 inches with 11 inches at Island Park, and 18 inches at White Elephant making it 50 inches total at White Elephant since November 20th. Howell Canyon had 11 inches with 9 inches at Oxford Springs. Pine Creek Pass had 11 inches with 20 inches at Sedgewick Peak, and 9 inches at Sheep Mountain. Franklin Basin had 19 inches.
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 Pocatello, ID wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 22, 1:43 PM MST, 10 hours 17 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID 143 PM MST MON NOV 22 2010 ...WIDESPREAD BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ON TUESDAY... .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. DEEP DYNAMIC UPPER LOW REMAINS IN PLACE OVER THE REGION. BANDS OF SNOW CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH EASTERN IDAHO. WINDS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN INCREASING IN RESPONSE TO RAPIDLY DEEPENING SURFACE LOW OVER WASHINGTON/OREGON ASSOCIATED WITH STRONG SHORT WAVE CENTERED NEAR SEATTLE. SURFACE OBSERVATIONS ALREADY SHOWING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH. SPOTTER REPORTS ALREADY INDICATE AREAS OF ZERO VISIBILITY IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW IN THE UPPER SNAKE HIGHLANDS...ALONG WITH MULTIPLE ROAD CLOSURES. HAVE ALREADY UPGRADED WINTER STORM WARNING FOR TAHT AREA TO A BLIZZARD WARNING...CONTINUING THE EVENT THROUGH TONIGHT AND TUESDAY. SURFACE LOW DIVES TO WESTERN IDAHO OVERNIGHT WITH STRONG SURFACE FRONT EXTENDING SOUTHWEST INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. 30 FT BOUNDARY LAYER WINDS INCREASE TO BETWEEN 35 AND 50 KITS ACROSS THE REGION AHEAD OF THE FRONT WITH 70KT 700MB SUPPORT. MODELS REMAIN CONSISTENT IN TIME AND WITH EACH OTHER SO CONFIDENCE IS VERY HIGH THAT THIS FEATURE WILL CAUSE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ACROSS EASTERN IDAHO AS IT MOVES THROUGH. PROXIMITY OF THE CENTRAL MTNS TO THE CENTER OF THE SURFACE LOW AND COMPLEXITY OF THE TERRAIN SHOULD HELP LIMIT WINDS SOMEWHAT IN THOSE AREAS. WILL CAUTIOUSLY KEEP THE CENTRAL MTNS IN WINTER STORM WARNING WITHOUT AN UPGRADE AT THIS TIME. FRONTAL PASSAGE ROUGHLY MIDDAY THROUGH EASTERN IDAHO...15Z THROUGH KBYI 18Z THROUGH KPIH AND 21-00Z TO GET OUT OF THE STATE. CONVECTIVE ENHANCEMENT OF SNOWFALL POSSIBLE ALONG THE FRONT. COULD BE SOME LINGERING UPSLOPE OROGRAPHIC ENHANCEMENT INTO THE EVENING...THUS WILL ALLOW THE BLIZZARD WARNING TO CONTINUE THROUGH THAT TIME. THE REMAINDER OF THE SHORT TERM WILL BE PUNCTUATED WITH DECREASING WINDS...CLEARING SKIES...AND INCREASINGLY COLD TEMPERATURES. THERE MAY BE ENOUGH LINGERING CLOUD COVER TUESDAY NIGHT BEHIND THE FRONT TO KEEP TEMPS FROM PLUNGING TOO FAR. THAT SAID...SOME AREAS MAY APPROACH RECORD LOWS. WIDESPREAD SINGLE DIGITS ARE LIKELY ALONG WITH AREAS WELL BELOW ZERO. NOT MUCH TEMPERATURE RECOVERY IS EXPECTED FOR WEDNESDAY. DMH .LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH NEXT MONDAY. EXPECT BITTERLY COLD TEMPERATURES THANKSGIVING MORNING AND THANKSGIVING DAY. OVERNIGHT LOWS WEDNESDAY NIGHT WILL BE WELL BELOW ZERO EVERYWHERE WITH HIGHS ON THANKSGIVING IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND TEENS. WILL HAVE MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS THANKSGIVING AND FRIDAY. EXPECT WARMING TEMPERATURES FRIDAY AHEAD OF THE NEXT PACIFIC TROF WHICH WILL LIKELY SPREAD PRECIPITATION BACK INTO SOUTHEAST IDAHO SATURDAY INTO NEXT MONDAY. EXPECT MAINLY SNOW EVEN ON VALLEY FLOORS SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. GK && .AVIATION...PERIODS OF SNOW HAVE KEPT INTERMITTENT MVFR TO LIFR CONDITIONS IN AT ALL TAF SITES TODAY AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. WINDS HAVE ALSO INCREASED WITH 20 TO 30 KNOTS AT PIH AND IDA. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH SOUTHEAST IDAHO TUESDAY MORNING AND EXPECT VERY STRONG WINDS WITH SNOW AHEAD OF AND BEHIND THE FRONT LATE TONIGHT AND THROUGH TUESDAY. EXPECT EXTENDED LIFR CONDITIONS AT ALL TAF SITES OVERNIGHT TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. GK && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 5 AM MST TUESDAY IDZ017-020-021. BLIZZARD WARNING FROM 5 AM TO 11 PM MST TUESDAY IDZ017-020-021. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 5 AM MST TUESDAY IDZ022>025. BLIZZARD WARNING FROM 5 AM TO 11 PM MST TUESDAY IDZ022>025. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 5 PM MST TUESDAY IDZ018-031-032. BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 11 PM MST TUESDAY IDZ019. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID 453 AM MST MON NOV 22 2010 IDZ017>025-031-032-231200- EASTERN MAGIC VALLEY-SAWTOOTH MOUNTAINS-UPPER SNAKE HIGHLANDS- UPPER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN-LOWER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN- SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-CARIBOU HIGHLANDS- CACHE VALLEY/IDAHO PORTION-WASATCH MOUNTAINS/IDAHO PORTION- BIG AND LITTLE WOOD RIVER REGION-LOST RIVER/PAHSIMEROI- 453 AM MST MON NOV 22 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN IDAHO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WINTER STORM WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN IDAHO. CHECK THE LATEST URGENT WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY WINTER STORM WARNINGS CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR ALL OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN IDAHO. CHECK THE LATEST URGENT WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR DETAILS. FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...AN ARCTIC AIR MASS WILL PLUNGE OVERNIGHT LOWS MOSTLY BELOW ZERO...WITH SOME VALLEYS IN THE CENTRAL IDAHO MOUNTAINS CHILLING TO 15 TO 25 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. EXPECT A SLOW WARMING BEGINNING FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING DAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WE ASK TRAINED SPOTTERS AND CITIZENS TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. THESE CONDITIONS MAY INCLUDE HAIL...TORNADOES...STRONG WIND...DUST STORMS...SNOWFALL... EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES...FREEZING RAIN OR HEAVY RAIN...DENSE FOG...AND FLOODING OR ICE JAMS. INFORMATION ABOUT THESE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS SHOULD BE CALLED INTO YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN POCATELLO USING THE 1-800 SEVERE WEATHER HOTLINE...OR 208-233-0834. MESSICK
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO
625 PM MST MON NOV 22 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0624 PM SNOW ENE AMERICAN FALLS 42.78N 112.85W
11/22/2010 M4.0 INCH POWER ID TRAINED SPOTTER
24-HOUR ACCUMULATION.
&&
GWICKLUNPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO
847 PM MST MON NOV 22 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 PM SNOW 30 WSW BURLEY 42.37N 114.33W
11/22/2010 E1.5 INCH TWIN FALLS ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT MAGIC MOUNTAIN, 6833 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 7 S POCATELLO 42.77N 112.47W
11/22/2010 E6.0 INCH BANNOCK ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT WILD HORSE DIVIDE, 6490 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM SNOW 2 NE WAYAN 43.00N 111.34W
11/22/2010 E3.0 INCH CARIBOU ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT SOMSEN RANCH, 6801 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 32 E BLACKFOOT 43.19N 111.71W
11/22/2010 E4.5 INCH BINGHAM ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT SHEEP MOUNTAIN, 6571 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 10 SSE LAVA HOT SPRINGS 42.49N 111.93W
11/22/2010 E7.5 INCH BANNOCK ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT SEDGWICK PEAK, 7897 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM SNOW 38 E IDAHO FALLS 43.49N 111.28W
11/22/2010 E3.0 INCH BONNEVILLE ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT PINE CREEK PASS, 6720 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 14 NW PRESTON 42.24N 112.07W
11/22/2010 E6.0 INCH FRANKLIN ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT OXFORD SPRINGS, 6740 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 18 SE BURLEY 42.35N 113.54W
11/22/2010 E12.0 INCH CASSIA ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT HOWELL CANYON, 7982 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 30 SW BURLEY 42.23N 114.20W
11/22/2010 E3.5 INCH CASSIA ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT BOSTETTER RS, 7503 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 9 SW VICTOR 43.51N 111.24W
11/22/2010 E8.0 INCH BONNEVILLE ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT PHILIPS BENCH, 8200 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 8 NW ISLAND PARK 44.64N 111.45W
11/22/2010 E18.0 INCH FREMONT ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT WHITE ELEPHANT, 7713 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 1 W ISLAND PARK 44.56N 111.36W
11/22/2010 E5.0 INCH FREMONT ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT ISLAND PARK RES, 6293 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 11 NE SPENCER 44.49N 112.03W
11/22/2010 E4.0 INCH CLARK ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT CRAB CREEK, 6686 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 28 NE STANLEY 44.50N 114.54W
11/22/2010 E7.5 INCH CUSTER ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT MILL CREEK SUMMIT, 8870 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 17 SW MACKAY 43.74N 113.85W
11/22/2010 E5.0 INCH CUSTER ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT SMILEY MTN, 9520 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM SNOW 50 NW ARCO 44.14N 114.01W
11/22/2010 E2.0 INCH CUSTER ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT STICKNEY MILL, 7431 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 33 WNW ARCO 43.82N 113.91W
11/22/2010 E4.0 INCH CUSTER ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT BEAR CANYON, 7903 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM SNOW 24 N CHALLIS 44.85N 114.22W
11/22/2010 E2.0 INCH CUSTER ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT MORGAN CREEK, 7440 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM SNOW 32 NE MACKAY 44.24N 113.15W
11/22/2010 E3.0 INCH LEMHI ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT MOONSHINE, 7440 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 37 NE MACKAY 44.29N 113.08W
11/22/2010 E9.0 INCH LEMHI ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT MEADOW LAKE, 9150 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 30 NNW ARCO 44.03N 113.53W
11/22/2010 E5.0 INCH CUSTER ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT HILTS CREEK, 8001 FT,12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 21 ENE HAILEY 43.63N 113.91W
11/22/2010 E4.0 INCH BLAINE ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT SWEDE PEAK, 7641 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM SNOW 11 ENE HAILEY 43.57N 114.10W
11/22/2010 E2.0 INCH BLAINE ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT HYNDMAN, 7440 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 20 ENE HAILEY 43.62N 113.93W
11/22/2010 E4.5 INCH BLAINE ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT GARFIELD RANGER, 6560 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 22 ENE KETCHUM 43.81N 113.97W
11/22/2010 E6.0 INCH CUSTER ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT GALENA SUMMIT, 8782 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 20 NW KETCHUM 43.89N 114.66W
11/22/2010 E5.0 INCH BLAINE ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT GALENA, 7440 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM SNOW 12 NNW KETCHUM 43.85N 114.47W
11/22/2010 E1.5 INCH BLAINE ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT CHOCOLATE GULCH, 6440 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 16 WSW KETCHUM 43.60N 114.67W
11/22/2010 E4.0 INCH CAMAS ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT DOLLARHIDE, 8421 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM SNOW 14 N MONTPELIER 42.53N 111.30W
11/22/2010 E3.0 INCH BEAR LAKE ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT SLUG CREEK DIVIDE, 7225 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 11 NE MONTPELIER 42.44N 111.15W
11/22/2010 E4.5 INCH BEAR LAKE ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT GIVEOUT, 6932 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM HEAVY SNOW 14 E PRESTON 42.10N 111.60W
11/22/2010 E8.0 INCH FRANKLIN ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT FRANKLIN BASIN, 8170 FT, 12 HOUR TOTAL
0500 PM SNOW 20 NE PRESTON 42.30N 111.60W
11/22/2010 E3.5 INCH FRANKLIN ID MESONET
SNOTEL AT EMIGRANT SUMMIT 7390 FT 12HR TOTAL
&&
TWYATTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO
852 PM MST MON NOV 22 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0840 PM SNOW 5 ENE BURLEY 42.57N 113.70W
11/22/2010 E1.5 INCH MINIDOKA ID TRAINED SPOTTER
ESTIMATED 12 HOUR TOTAL
&&
TWYATT8 blizzard, 3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Sigificant snow fell with a strong cold frontal passage in the Sawtooth Mountains. 18 inches fell at Bear Canyon, 11 inches at Stickney Mill, 19 inches at Smiley Mountain, anda 18 inches at Mill Creek Summit.
Sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph combined with heavy snow caused Highways 32, 33, 47, 87, and US Highway 20 from Ashton to the Montana state line to be shut down. Snow amounts during the event were 18 inches at Crab Creek, 12 inches at Island Park, and 21 inches at White elephant which picked up 50 inches total since November 21st.
Three to 5 inches of snow fell in the Upper Snake River Plain combined with 50 to 60 mph wind gusts caused Interstate 15 north of Idaho Falls to be closed as well as all roads in Bingham County. Several school districts closed as well.
Two to 4 inches of snow fell in the Lower Snake River Plain and combined with 50 to 60 mph wind gusts for blizzard conditions. The Pocatello/Chubbuck, American Falls, and Sho-Ban schools all closed due to the conditions.
Interstate 84 from the Interstate 86 intersection to the Utah border closed due to whiteout conditions and blowing snow. Heaviest snow amounts were 11 inches at Howell Canyon and 9 inches at Oxford Springs.
Extremely heavy snow fell in the Caribou Highlands and combined with strong winds to produce whiteout conditions. Amounts recorded were the following: Pine Creek Pass 11 inches, Sedgwick Peak 21 inches, Sheep Mountain 9 inches, Somsen Ranch, 10 inches, and Wild Horse Divide 7 inches.
The Franklin County Sheriffs Office reported 30 accidents and 50 abandoned cars stuck in snow. No reports of snow amounts were received, but 2 foot drifts were reported on some roads and zero visibility was reported to be near zero from 11 am through 2 pm by the Sheriffs office in Franklin County. Franklin County schools were closed for the day.
Eight inches of snow fell at Emigrant Summit. 19 inches fell at Frannklin Basin with 7 inches at Slug Creek and 8 inches at Giveout.
Twelve inches of snow fell in Hailey. SNOTEL reports were the following: 19 inches at Dollarhide, 9 inches at Chocolate Gulch, 17 inches at Galena Summit, 12 inches at Garfield Ranger Station, 11 inches at Lost Wood Divide, 9 inches at Hyndman, and 15 inches at Swede Peak.
Heavy snow fell in the Lost River Pahsimeroi region. 20 inches fell at Hilt's Creek with 12 inches at Meadow Lake and 9 inches at Moonshine.
Three to 5 inches of snow fell with wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph. Whiteout conditions were reported 5 miles southwest of Gannett. Interstate 84 closed from the junction with Interstate 86 to the Utah border and US Highway 30 was closed between mileposts 228 and 252 from Murtaugh to Burley due to whiteout conditions.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Idaho in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, November 2010
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: 269637, 269638, 269639, 269640, 269641, 269642, 269643, 269644, 269645, 269646, 269636.