A powerful Pacific storm with a strong cold frontal passage caused 9 inches to as much as 44 inches in the southeast Idaho mountains with 3 to as much as 8 inches of snow in the Snake River Plain and valleys. Some blizzard conditions occurred with many school closings on the 10th and 11th.
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 powerful Pacific storm with a strong cold frontal passage caused 9 inches to as much as 44 inches in the southeast Idaho mountains with 3 to as much as 8 inches of snow in the Snake River Plain and valleys. Some blizzard conditions occurred with many school closings on the 10th and 11th.
11 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Six inches of snow fell in Hailey and Bellevue by the morning of the 10th. SNOTEL measurements were: 9 inches at Vienna Mine, 12 inches at Lost Wood Divide, 9 inches at Dollarhide Summit, 9 inches at Galena, and 13 inches at Galena Summit.
Eleven inches of snow reported at Bear Canyon and 9 inches at Smiley Mountain.
Heavy snow and strong winds occurred as a strong Pacific storm moved through the region. SNOTEL snow amounts were the following: Meadow Lake 9 inches, Morgan Creek 19 inches, and Hilts Creek 14 inches.
A Pacific storm brought high wind and heavy snow to the South Central Highlands. INterstate 84 was closed from the Utah state line to Interstate 86. Highway 81 was closed from Malta to Declo. SNOTEL snowfall amounts were: 37 inches at Magic Mountain, 22 inches at Bostetter Ranger Station, and 47 inches at Howell Canyon.
Five inches of snow fell in Shoshone in the early morning hours on the 10th. A combination of snow and wind caused early closing of schools on the 10th in Cassia County, Minidoka County as well as the Richfield schools. Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 6 inches in the region.
Snow and strong winds caused over 70 accidents in the Lower Snake River Plain based on police and state highway reports on the 10th and 11th. The city of Blackfoot closed schools one hour early on the 10th. Blackfoot and Pocatello schools were closed on the 11th along with Idaho State University. Snow amounts ranged from 3 inches at the Pocatello airport to 5 inches in Chubbuck and Pocatello with 7 inches on the benches east of Pocatello. Around 6 inches fell in Blackfoot.
A Pacific storm brought heavy snowfall to the Caribou Highlands. 20 inches fell at Wildhorse Divide with 13 inches at Sedgick Peak. The Pebble Creek Ski Area received 16 inches.
The city of Rigby reported blizzard conditions at 350 pm on the 10th with visilibity under one quarter mile and snow covered roads. Idaho National Laboratory Contractors released early due to snow and blowing snow. Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 6 inches in the region. Over 30 traffic accidents reported as well.
HIghway 36 between Preston and Dayton was closed late on the morning of the 10th through the 11th. 6 to 12 inch snowfall amounts occurred with extensive blowing and drifting of the snow.
One foot of snow fell at Kilgore with 7 inches at Dubois. Nine inches fell at Victor with 10 in Chester. SNOTEL reports were: 17 inches at White elephant, 13 inches at Crab Creek.
Blizzard conditions reported in Bern on the evening of the 10th with zero visibility and 50 mph wind gusts. Emigrant Summit reported 14 inches of snow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Idaho in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, January 2013
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: 428203, 428232, 428236, 428234, 428205, 428210, 428216, 428230, 428231, 428233, 428235.