Heavy Snow in Idaho, February 2 to 4, 2015

Name: Heavy Snow in Idaho, February 2 to 4, 2015
Start: 2015-02-02T15:00
End: 2015-02-04T10:00
Location: Idaho

February 2 to 4, 2015 · NWS PIH · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A few SNOTEL sites reported over 10 inches of snow from this event.

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 PIH wrote it up.

A few SNOTEL sites reported over 10 inches of snow from this event.

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 Pocatello, ID wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 2, 2:06 PM MST, 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 2, 2:06 PM MST, 54 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
206 PM MST MON FEB 2 2015

.SHORT TERM...SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS THE SECOND OF THREE
DISTURBANCES WILL BEGIN CROSSING SOUTHEAST IDAHO ABOUT 4 PM AND MOVE
EAST OF THE STATE A LITTLE AFTER MIDNIGHT. SNOW LEVELS ARE EXPECTED
TO RISE TO AROUND 5500 TO 6000 FEET ELEVATION BY MIDNIGHT...THEN
FALL BACK TO AROUND 5000 TO 5500 FEET BY TUESDAY MORNING. WINDS ALSO
INCREASE TO 15 TO 20 MPH TONIGHT IN THE EASTERN MAGIC VALLEY AND
LOWER SNAKE PLAIN. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY LAST NIGHT WAS PRETTY
ACTIVE JUST OFF THE COAST AND ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THAT
MAY INDICATE SOME FEEDBACK AND OVER ESTIMATES OF PRECIPITATION
ISSUES IN THE MODELS. MUCH OF THE SNAKE PLAIN WILL SEE RAIN OVER
NIGHT...THE EASTERN HIGHLANDS AND AREAS FROM ABOUT ROBERTS AND
REXBURG NORTH AND TO THE EAST WILL BE SNOW. THE THIRD DISTURBANCE
CROSSES THIS AREA TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ESTIMATE ANOTHER 2
TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW BETWEEN THE TWO DISTURBANCES ABOVE 5500 FEET
ELEVATION THROUGH WEDNESAY MORNING. LITTLE ACCUMULATION IN THE LOWER
VALLEYS.WILL CONTINUE THE CURRENT WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. RS

.LONG TERM...THU NIGHT THROUGH NEXT MON NIGHT. COMPLETE DISAGREEMENT
FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WORK WEEK MEANS ONCE
AGAIN PAINTING WITH A BROAD BRUSH. LARGE AMOUNTS OF PRECIPITATION
OCCUR IN BOTH PRODUCT SUITES...JUST AT DIFFERENT TIMES. CONTINUED
WARM...MILD AIRMASS OVER SOUTHERN IDAHO...SO MUCH OF THE
PRECIPITATION WILL BE RAIN. SINCE MAX AND MIN TEMPERATURES ARE SO
MUCH A FUNCTION OF CLOUD COVER AND OCCURRENCE OF
PRECIPITATION...HAVE NOT DONE MUCH THERE EXCEPT TO KEEP UP WITH ANY
BORDER ISSUES. IN THE END...IT WILL BE A WARM...WET...UNSETTLED
PERIOD...INCLUDING POTENTIALLY LARGE AMOUNTS OF HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOW
AND WINDY CONDITIONS IN THE SNAKE RIVER PLAIN AND THE RIDGES. ONLY
THE STORM ON FRI/FRI NIGHT HAS STRONG CERTAINTY AS FAR AS TIMING.
MESSICK

&&

.AVIATION...CIGS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE THIS AFTERNOON...AND JUST MAY
CONTINUE AS STRATUS AND SNOW RE-INTENSIFIES TONIGHT. WORST CIGS
SHOULD DEVELOP DURING AIRDROME CLOSURE TIME...EXCEPT FOR KSUN WHERE
IT LOOKS LIKE AIRDROME CLOSURE FOR THE EVENING HOURS TONIGHT. OUT
THE THREE PLAIN AIRPORTS...KIDA CONTINUES TO BE THE MOST AFFECTED AS
MUCH OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL BE SNOW. DO NOT SEE SIGNIFICANT
CLEARING IN THE SNAKE RIVER PLAIN UNTIL AFTER 03/18Z...WHILE KSUN
SHOULD CLEAR LATE TONIGHT AS NORTHWEST FLOW DEVELOPS AND DOWNSLOPES
THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY. MESSICK

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM MST WEDNESDAY IDZ019-023-025.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM MST WEDNESDAY IDZ018-031.

&&

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 2, 10:24 AM MST, 4 hours 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
1024 AM MST MON FEB 02 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0908 AM     SNOW             2 N MACKS INN           44.52N 111.33W
02/02/2015  M5.0 INCH        FREMONT            ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NEW SNOW SINCE 3PM YESTERDAY.

&&

GWICKLUN

Local storm report, Feb 2, 2:28 PM MST, 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
228 PM MST MON FEB 02 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0100 PM     SNOW             30 SW BURLEY            42.17N 114.20W
02/02/2015  E2.8 INCH        CASSIA             ID   MESONET

            BOSTETTER R.S. SNOTEL 7503 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             20 NW KETCHUM           43.88N 114.67W
02/02/2015  E1.2 INCH        BLAINE             ID   MESONET

            GALENA SNOTEL 7440 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             22 NW KETCHUM           43.87N 114.72W
02/02/2015  E1.0 INCH        BLAINE             ID   MESONET

            GALENA SUMMIT SNOTEL 8782 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     HEAVY SNOW       32 NNE DRIGGS           44.13N 110.83W
02/02/2015  E8.0 INCH        TETON              WY   MESONET

            GRASSY LAKE SNOTEL 7265 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     HEAVY SNOW       10 ENE DRIGGS           43.78N 110.93W
02/02/2015  E11.2 INCH       TETON              WY   MESONET

            GRAND TARGHEE SNOTEL 9260 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             18 SE BURLEY            42.32N 113.62W
02/02/2015  E2.7 INCH        CASSIA             ID   MESONET

            HOWELL CANYON SNOTEL 7982 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL. 0100

PM     SNOW             1 W ISLAND PARK         44.42N 111.38W
02/02/2015  E3.3 INCH        FREMONT            ID   MESONET

            ISLAND PARK SNOTEL 6293 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             14 NW PRESTON           42.27N 112.13W
02/02/2015  E3.4 INCH        FRANKLIN           ID   MESONET

            OXFORD SPRINGS SNOTEL 6740 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             38 E IDAHO FALLS        43.57N 111.22W
02/02/2015  E2.5 INCH        BONNEVILLE         ID   MESONET

            PINE CREEK PASS SNOTEL 6720 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             32 E BLACKFOOT          43.22N 111.68W
02/02/2015  E2.2 INCH        BINGHAM            ID   MESONET

            SHEEP MOUNTAIN SNOTEL 6571 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             22 NW KETCHUM           43.80N 114.85W
02/02/2015  E2.1 INCH        BLAINE             ID   MESONET

            VIENNA MINE SNOTEL 8963 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             7 S POCATELLO           42.75N 112.48W
02/02/2015  E1.1 INCH        BANNOCK            ID   MESONET

            WILDHORSE DIVIDE SNOTEL 6490 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             8 NW ISLAND PARK        44.53N 111.42W
02/02/2015  E3.0 INCH        FREMONT            ID   MESONET

            WHITE ELEPHANT SNOTEL 7713 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

&&

RS

Local storm report, Feb 2, 2:28 PM MST, 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
228 PM MST MON FEB 02 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0100 PM     SNOW             30 SW BURLEY            42.17N 114.20W
02/02/2015  E2.8 INCH        CASSIA             ID   MESONET

            BOSTETTER R.S. SNOTEL 7503 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             20 NW KETCHUM           43.88N 114.67W
02/02/2015  E1.2 INCH        BLAINE             ID   MESONET

            GALENA SNOTEL 7440 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             22 NW KETCHUM           43.87N 114.72W
02/02/2015  E1.0 INCH        BLAINE             ID   MESONET

            GALENA SUMMIT SNOTEL 8782 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     HEAVY SNOW       32 NNE DRIGGS           44.13N 110.83W
02/02/2015  E8.0 INCH        TETON              WY   MESONET

            GRASSY LAKE SNOTEL 7265 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     HEAVY SNOW       10 ENE DRIGGS           43.78N 110.93W
02/02/2015  E11.2 INCH       TETON              WY   MESONET

            GRAND TARGHEE SNOTEL 9260 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             18 SE BURLEY            42.32N 113.62W
02/02/2015  E2.7 INCH        CASSIA             ID   MESONET

            HOWELL CANYON SNOTEL 7982 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             1 W ISLAND PARK         44.42N 111.38W
02/02/2015  E3.3 INCH        FREMONT            ID   MESONET

            ISLAND PARK SNOTEL 6293 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             14 NW PRESTON           42.27N 112.13W
02/02/2015  E3.4 INCH        FRANKLIN           ID   MESONET

            OXFORD SPRINGS SNOTEL 6740 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             38 E IDAHO FALLS        43.57N 111.22W
02/02/2015  E2.5 INCH        BONNEVILLE         ID   MESONET

            PINE CREEK PASS SNOTEL 6720 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             32 E BLACKFOOT          43.22N 111.68W
02/02/2015  E2.2 INCH        BINGHAM            ID   MESONET

            SHEEP MOUNTAIN SNOTEL 6571 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             22 NW KETCHUM           43.80N 114.85W
02/02/2015  E2.1 INCH        BLAINE             ID   MESONET

            VIENNA MINE SNOTEL 8963 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             7 S POCATELLO           42.75N 112.48W
02/02/2015  E1.1 INCH        BANNOCK            ID   MESONET

            WILDHORSE DIVIDE SNOTEL 6490 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

0100 PM     SNOW             8 NW ISLAND PARK        44.53N 111.42W
02/02/2015  E3.0 INCH        FREMONT            ID   MESONET

            WHITE ELEPHANT SNOTEL 7713 MSL. 20-HOUR TOTAL.

&&

RS

Event by event

5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Wasatch Mountains/Iadho Portion

When: February 2, 3:00 PM MST to February 4, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Wasatch Mountains/Iadho Portion forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

Emigrant Summit received 16 inches of snowfall.

Heavy Snow, South Central Highlands

When: February 2, 3:00 PM MST to February 4, 7:00 AM MST
Where: South Central Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Howell Canyon SNOTEL recorded 14 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow, Upper Snake Highlands

When: February 2, 3:00 PM MST to February 4, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Upper Snake Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Phillips Bench SNOTEL recorded 18 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow, Big and Little Wood River Region

When: February 2, 3:00 PM MST to February 4, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Big and Little Wood River Region forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

Vienna Mine recorded 10 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow, Caribou Highlands

When: February 2, 4:00 PM MST to February 4, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Caribou Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

Pine Creek Pass recorded 7 inches of snow and Sedgwick Peak recorded 10 inches.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Idaho in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in Idaho, February 2015

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 558124, 558125, 558126, 558128, 558127.