Winter Weather in Idaho, November 2 to 4, 2013

Name: Winter Weather in Idaho, November 2 to 4, 2013
Start: 2013-11-02T09:00
End: 2013-11-04T14:00
Location: Idaho

November 2 to 4, 2013 · NWS MSO · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A three day period of moderate precipitation from Nov. 2 through Nov.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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: 5

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.

A three day period of moderate precipitation from Nov. 2 through Nov. 4, brought up to two inches of precipitation and up to a foot and a half of snowfall across the Clearwater Mountains. Many locations didn't have much snow on the ground and this storm helped to start the 2013/2014 snowpack. A second cold core upper level trough brought another round of snow showers down to the 3,000 ft. level across much of north-central Idaho on Nov. 4th.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Northern Clearwater Mountains

When: November 2, 9:00 AM PST to November 4, 2:00 PM PST
Where: Northern Clearwater Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.674, -115.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Pierce COOP observer at 3,185 ft., reported 7 of snow on Nov. 4th while their total precipitation from Nov. 3-4 was 0.93. The Elk Butte SNOTEL at 5,690 ft. located in northwestern Clearwater County reported a storm total snowfall of 11 with 1.20 of precipitation. The Cool Creek SNOTEL at 6,280 ft., located in northeastern Clearwater County reported a storm total snowfall of 19 with 1.90 of precipitation through 1 pm PST on Nov. 4th. Other snow totals include: 8 Shanghi Summit SNOTEL (4,570 ft.), 14 Crater Meadows SNOTEL (5,960 ft.).

Winter Weather, Eastern Lemhi County

When: November 2, 1:00 PM MST to November 4, 11:00 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)

The ITD web cam at Lost Trail Pass at 7,090 ft. revealed off and on snow showers on Saturday Nov. 2nd and US-93 became snow covered by 7:16 pm MDT. There was a lull in the snow on Nov. 3rd before snow fell again by the early morning of the 4th. The Saddle Mountain SNOTEL at 7900 ft., located 1 mile west of Lost Trail Pass reported a three day storm total snowfall of 5.

Winter Weather, Southern Clearwater Mountains

When: November 2, 7:00 PM PST to November 4, 11:00 AM PST
Where: Southern Clearwater Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 45.844, -115.467 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Lolo Pass SNOTEL at 5,240 ft., reported a storm total snowfall of 6 with 1.00 of precipitation. The ITD sensors at Lolo Pass and at Elk City (3,939 ft.) reported slick roadways both Saturday (Nov. 2nd) and Sunday (Nov. 3rd) nights while improving during the daytime. The Savage Pass SNOTEL at 6,170 ft. reported 6 of snow with 0.60 of precipitation.

Winter Weather, Lower Hells Canyon / Salmon River Region

When: November 3, 4:40 PM PST to November 4, 10:00 AM PST
Where: Lower Hells Canyon / Salmon River Region forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 45.844, -115.467 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Light snow fell at Whitebird Hill on US-95 at 4,222 ft. by 4:40 pm PST on Sunday Nov. 3rd. The ITD road sensor reported ice by 6:31 pm PST. By 2 am PST on Monday Nov. 4th, Whitebird Hill was snow covered and slippery. The snow tapered off by 7 am PST on Monday Nov. 4th, while road surfaces continued to be slick until around 10 am PST.

Winter Weather, Orofino / Grangeville Region

When: November 4, 1:00 AM PST to 7:12 AM PST
Where: Orofino / Grangeville Region forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.259, -115.562 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A weather spotter from Weippe at 3,022 ft. reported 2.5 of snowfall which accumulated on Highway 11 making for slick conditions. The ITD road sensor at Greer Grade at 3,112 ft. and 9 miles west of Weippe on Highway 11, reported snow on the road with grip levels suggesting that slippery conditions existed from 2 am through 7:45 am PST on Nov. 4th. Light snow also fell along across the Camas Prairie with ITD road sensors at both Frei Hill and the Concrete Section reporting slick roads Sunday evening Nov. 3rd through Monday morning Nov. 4th.

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Idaho in 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history Warnings in Idaho, November 2013

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: 483153, 483174, 483173, 483175, 483156.