Significant debris slid onto Idaho Highway 14 between Grangeville and Elk City, cutting off the only route into Elk City and Dixie (total population 250). This is a slide prone area, but significant rain had occurred during the prior week.
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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 MSO wrote it up.
Significant debris slid onto Idaho Highway 14 between Grangeville and Elk City, cutting off the only route into Elk City and Dixie (total population 250). This is a slide prone area, but significant rain had occurred during the prior week. Roughly 200-400% of average rainfall occurred during the week ending 2/20/16, most of which occurred during an atmospheric river event on the 14th and 15th. Nearby observations indicate there was virtually no precipitation in the 48 hours immediately prior to the slide, but the soaking precipitation during the atmospheric river, seasonal snowmelt, and thaw/refreeze cycles may have all played a role in this event. Clearing debris and creating a safe corridor for travel continued for months after the event.
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 Missoula, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 11, 1:26 PM PST, 10 hours 34 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Missoula MT 226 PM MST THU FEB 11 2016 .DISCUSSION...A weak weather disturbance and surge of moisture will move across mainly north central Idaho and western Montana this evening and tonight. Temperatures have warmed sufficiently to remove the threat of freezing rain in most areas. However, very light freezing rain is possible in Salmon tonight due to cold air persisting in this area. Snow levels will remain quite high and generally at or above most mountain passes. Some local ponding may develop tonight in the Missoula, northern Bitterroot and Flathead valleys where low valley melting snow combines with light precipitation. The main feed of moisture will shift more over northwest Montana Friday with a few showers continuing. Temperatures will continue to run quite mild, around 10 to 15 degrees above normal, except in Salmon where some cold air should persist. A cold front and more organized weather system should shift across north central Idaho and western Montana late Friday night and Saturday. This weather system will produce precipitation for most, with snow levels lowering to 3000 to 4000 feet. Mountain passes, such as Lost Trail, Lolo, Lookout and Marias should see significant accumulating snow. However, only the high passes (such as Lost Trail) may see snow remaining on roads through the day. A cool and moist northwest flow is expected Saturday night into early Sunday with a more wintry period for the Northern Rocky Mountain passes, in general. The valleys of western Montana may see a brief period of wet snow late Saturday night into Sunday morning. However, impacts to lower valley roads should be minimal because of melting. Additional surges of moisture should shift across the region late Sunday into Monday. Snow levels should be on the rise as milder Pacific air again shifts across the region. Milder temperatures this weekend and especially early next week could produce significant snow melt in the Salmon area and will need to be watched, in terms of low overland ponding/flooding. && .AVIATION...Other than a few passing mid to high level clouds, weather conditions will remain quite nice for the valleys of western Montana and central Idaho through the rest of the day. There will be periods of mountain obscurations for the highest terrain along the MT/ID border, with the possibility of light rain/snow mix. A weak disturbance will bring lower ceilings and a better potential for prolonged light rain/snow showers after midnight tonight for KMSO and KGPI. KSMN will also have the threat for precipitation, though what does fall there, could be a light freezing drizzle. With the exception of KGPI, most of the precipitation will be out of the terminals by 12/1500Z. KGPI will have the threat for a mix precipitation all day, changing to mainly light rain by the afternoon. && .MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...None. ID...None. &&
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
South Fork RAWS reported 0.50 inches of rain over the 7 days preceding the event. The greatest 1 day rainfall was Feb 15, when 0.23 inches fell.
Fenn Ranger Station RAWS reported 2.21 inches of rain over the 7 days preceding the event. The greatest 1 day rainfall was Feb 15, when 0.81 inches fell.
Red River RAWS reported 1.08 inches of rain over the 7 days preceding the event. The greatest 1 day rainfall was Feb 14, when 0.48 inches fell.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Idaho in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, February 2016
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: 620534, 620535, 620536.