A strong cold front swept through the Intermountain West early in the morning on the 23rd. Snow squalls and high winds with damage to trees and power lines were reported across the region.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 BOI wrote it up.
A strong cold front swept through the Intermountain West early in the morning on the 23rd. Snow squalls and high winds with damage to trees and power lines were reported across the region.
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 Boise, ID wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 23, 2:25 AM PST, 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOISE ID
325 AM MST SAT FEB 23 2013
.SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY...COLD FRONT WITH GUSTY WINDS
AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AT 3 AM EXTENDED FROM DUCK VALLEY NEAR
THE IDAHO-OREGON-NEVADA STATES BORDER TO MOUNTAIN HOME TO WARM
LAKE/YELLOW PINE. WINDS GUSTED 30-40 MPH ACROSS BAKER
CITY...ONTARIO AND BOISE AND 45-69 MPH IN PARTS OF SOUTHEAST
OREGON WHERE TREE DAMAGE WAS REPORTED. LOCAL POWER OUTAGES AND
ISOLATED DAMAGE IS POSSIBLE AS THE FRONT CONTINUES TO MOVE THROUGH
SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO. AS THE ASSOCIATED UPPER TROUGH MOVES THROUGH
THIS AFTERNOON STRONG WINDS FROM ALOFT WILL MIX DOWN ACROSS THE
SNAKE RIVER PLAIN EAST OF BOISE. THE JET AXIS IS MAINLY ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN ZONES...SO THE WIND ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR
FAR SOUTHWEST IDAHO. COLDER TONIGHT WITH THE UPPER TROUGH EXITING THE
AREA WITH SCATTERED MAINLY MOUNTAIN SNOW SHOWERS. COLD NW FLOW
WILL DRY OUT SUNDAY WITH ONLY A STRAY SNOW SHOWER IN THE FORECAST
FOR THE HIGHEST TERRAIN.
.LONG TERM...SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY...NO CHANGE IN CURRENT
FORECAST AS NEXT SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH THE REGION MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
ONE CONCERN TO WATCH WILL BE ANY THUNDERSTORM POSSIBILITIES AS RIGHT
FRONT QUAD OF 80-90 KT JET RIDES INTO SW IDAHO. THE 1-2 PUNCH MONDAY
AND TUESDAY IS ONLY EXPECTED TO BRING A FEW INCHES OF SNOW TO THE
WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. MODELS SHOWING ANOTHER SYSTEM PUSHING IN ON
WEDNESDAY BUT THE FLOW IS BECOMING MORE WESTERLY AS AN UPPER RIDGE
OFF THE WEST COAST SLOWLY AMPLIFIES. TEMPERATURES START BELOW NORMAL
MONDAY AND TUESDAY WARMING UP TO NORMAL BY THURSDAY.
&&
.AVIATION...FRONT MOVED THROUGH THE KBOI AREA AROUND 0930Z AND WILL
PUSH THROUGH KTWF AROUND 12Z. IFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED WITH FROPA IN
SN FG VIS 1/4-1 SM CIGS LESS THAN 1KFT WITH WIND G35-40KTS.
IMPROVING CONDITIONS EXPECTED AFTER SUNRISE. EXPECT IMPROVING
CONDITIONS AFTER SUNRISE. STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT DEVELOPS TODAY
BRINGING SFC WND NW15-25KT WITH G30-40 KTS ESP ACROSS KTWF AND KJER.
WINDS TO 10KFT EXPECTED NW30-40KTS DECREASING BY SUNSET.
&&
.BOI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM MST EARLY THIS MORNING IDZ033.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 11 AM MST THIS MORNING IDZ015-016-028-
030.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON
IDZ015-016-028-030.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM MST EARLY THIS MORNING IDZ011-
013.
OR...NONE.
&&
WEATHER.GOV/BOISE
SHORT TERM...VM
LONG TERM....CR
AVIATION.....CRHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOISE ID 1017 PM MST FRI FEB 22 2013 IDZ011-013-231300- WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-BOISE MOUNTAINS- 1017 PM MST FRI FEB 22 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL IDAHO. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW IN EFFECT THROUGH 6 AM SATURDAY. STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION IN THE 24 HOURS ENDING AT 6 AM SATURDAY...IN THE MOUNTAINS 1 TO 2 FEET AND IN THE VALLEYS 4 TO 9 INCHES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER VIA ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES. WE ARE ON FACEBOOK AT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOISE AND MONITOR TWITTER AT NWS BOISE. IDZ015-016-028-030-231300- SOUTHWEST HIGHLANDS-WESTERN MAGIC VALLEY-CAMAS PRAIRIE- SOUTHERN TWIN FALLS COUNTY- 1017 PM MST FRI FEB 22 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO AND SOUTHWEST IDAHO. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM SATURDAY WITH 2 TO 4 INCHES IN THE VALLEYS AND 4 TO 8 INCHES IN THE MOUNTAINS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY WIND ADVISORY FOR VERY WINDY CONDITIONS SATURDAY AFTERNOON. BLOWING SNOW MAY CONTINUE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER VIA ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES. WE ARE ON FACEBOOK AT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOISE AND WE MONITOR TWITTER AT NWS BOISE. IDZ033-231300- UPPER WEISER RIVER- 1017 PM MST FRI FEB 22 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL IDAHO. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW THROUGH 6 AM SATURDAY. STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION 2 TO 4 INCHES BELOW 4500 FEET AND UP TO 7 INCHES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER VIA ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES. WE ARE ON FACEBOOK AT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOISE AND WE MONITOR TWITTER AT NWS BOISE. IDZ012-014-029-ORZ061>064-231300- LOWER TREASURE VALLEY ID-UPPER TREASURE VALLEY-OWYHEE MOUNTAINS- HARNEY COUNTY-BAKER COUNTY-MALHEUR COUNTY- LOWER TREASURE VALLEY OR- 1017 PM MST FRI FEB 22 2013 /917 PM PST FRI FEB 22 2013/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST IDAHO...NORTHEAST OREGON AND SOUTHEAST OREGON. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOISE ID
116 AM MST SAT FEB 23 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0105 AM NON-TSTM WND GST ONTARIO 44.02N 116.97W
02/23/2013 M36.00 MPH MALHEUR OR ASOS
PEAK WIND FROM THE NW. HEAVY RAIN AT 0112. LIGHTNING
DISTANT NW.
0101 AM SNOW MCCALL 44.91N 116.11W
02/23/2013 E5.0 INCH VALLEY ID MESONET
MCCALL AIRPORT WEB CAM SNOW STAKE SINCE 5 PM.
1258 AM SNOW BRUNDAGE SKI AREA 45.00N 116.16W
02/23/2013 E4.5 INCH ADAMS ID MESONET
BRUNDAGE SNOW STAKE SINCE 5 PM.
1252 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 SSW WESTFALL BUTTE 43.90N 117.99W
02/23/2013 M54.00 MPH MALHEUR OR MESONET
WIND SHIFTED FROM SW 17G37 TO NW 35G54 IN THE LAST HOUR.
TEMPERATURE FELL FROM 32 TO 25.
&&
VMILLSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOISE ID
214 AM MST SAT FEB 23 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0212 AM TSTM WND GST 10 NW BOISE 43.71N 116.37W
02/23/2013 E40.00 MPH ADA ID NWS EMPLOYEE
WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH. HEARD THUNDER AROUND 155 AM.
0207 AM SNOW N NAMPA 43.58N 116.56W
02/23/2013 M0.3 INCH CANYON ID TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER INCH OF SNOW IN 15 MINUTES ENDING AT 205 AM.
0200 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG 10 W DIAMOND 43.02N 118.88W
02/23/2013 HARNEY OR TRAINED SPOTTER
LAST HOUR OR SO...CRANE SLEET/FREEZING RAIN ABOUT 20
MILES TOWARDS DIAMOND. DRY BUT WINDY DIAMOND TO 10 WEST
DIAMOND. SEVERAL 0.50 INCH DIAMETER LIMBS BROKEN OFF
TREES. SOME LIMBS DOWN ON PORTION OF ROADWAY. AT LEAST 30
MPH WINDS STILL AT 2 AM.
&&
VMILLSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOISE ID
229 AM MST SAT FEB 23 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0226 AM NON-TSTM WND GST BOISE 43.61N 116.23W
02/23/2013 M39.00 MPH ADA ID ASOS
SNOW SQUALL.
0225 AM NON-TSTM WND GST MCCALL 44.91N 116.11W
02/23/2013 M37.00 MPH VALLEY ID ASOS
HEAVY SNOW. PEAK GUST FROM NW 290 DEGREES AT 208 AM.
0215 AM TSTM WND GST CALDWELL 43.66N 116.68W
02/23/2013 M38.00 MPH CANYON ID AWOS
THUNDERSTORMS ON COLD FRONT. 34 DEGREES.
0157 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 SW MANN LAKE 42.71N 118.51W
02/23/2013 M69.00 MPH HARNEY OR MESONET
WIND SHIFT FROM SSW 10G24 TO NNW 22G69MPH. PEAK GUST
WITHIN THE LAST HOUR.
0154 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 WNW COYOTE GAP 42.47N 119.18W
02/23/2013 M56.00 MPH HARNEY OR MESONET
WIND SHIFTED FROM WSW 16G27 TO WNW 15G56MPH AND
TEMPERATURE DROPED FROM 33 TO 26. ELEVATION 4907 FT MSL.
0152 AM NON-TSTM WND GST ROME 42.83N 117.62W
02/23/2013 M49.00 MPH MALHEUR OR AWOS
WINDS WEST 37G49. AT 201 MST WNW 31G49 MPH TEMPERATURE
FELL FROM 35 TO 28 THE LAST 9 MINUTES. ELEVATION 4049 FT
MSL.
0143 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 WSW FRENCHGLEN 42.82N 118.94W
02/23/2013 M46.00 MPH HARNEY OR MESONET
WINDS SHIFTED TO WEST 17G46 MPH.
&&
VMILLSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOISE ID
244 AM MST SAT FEB 23 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0228 AM HEAVY SNOW BRUNDAGE SKI AREA 45.00N 116.16W
02/23/2013 E4.0 INCH ADAMS ID MESONET
FOUR INCHES IN 75 MINUTES WITH CONVECTIVE SNOW ON COLD
FRONT.
&&
VMILLSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOISE ID
336 AM MST SAT FEB 23 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0319 AM NON-TSTM WND GST MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE 43.05N 115.87W
02/23/2013 M38.00 MPH ELMORE ID ASOS
COLD FRONT CROSSED IN THE LAST 6 MINUTES. MODERATE FROZEN
PRECIPITATION AT 317 AM.
0255 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NNE TRIANGLE 42.83N 116.59W
02/23/2013 M49.00 MPH OWYHEE ID MESONET
WIND SHIFTED FROM SSW 11G21 TO WNW 24G49 MPH AND
TEMPERATURE DROPPED 6F. ELEVATION 5270 FT MSL.
&&
VMILLSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOISE ID
343 AM MST SAT FEB 23 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0325 AM NON-TSTM WND GST MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE 43.05N 115.87W
02/23/2013 M53.00 MPH ELMORE ID ASOS
PEAK WIND GUST FROM THE NW. SUSTAINED WIND 31 MPH AT 320
AM. SNOWING.
&&
VMILLSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A cold front moving through the region brought high winds up to 69 MPH and wind damage around the Diamond and Mann Lake areas.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, February 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 433540.