Heavy Snow in Idaho, December 3, 2017

Name: Heavy Snow in Idaho, December 3, 2017
Start: 2017-12-03T09:00
End: 2017-12-03T23:00
Location: Idaho

December 3, 2017 · NWS PIH · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A storm system brought some heavy snow amounts and dangerous roads to southeast Idaho.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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 storm system brought some heavy snow amounts and dangerous roads to southeast Idaho.

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 Dec 3, 2:17 AM MST, 6 hours 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 3, 2:17 AM MST, 6 hours 43 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
217 AM MST Sun Dec 3 2017

.SHORT TERM...Today through Tuesday night. A vigorous low pressure
system was observed digging ESE into the NW coast early this morning
while the leading edge of associated moisture was advancing into the
CNTRL mountains. As the trough sweeps east through SRN Idaho today,
associated precipitation will spread east across the remainder of SE
Idaho through the morning hours with lowering snow levels following
this afternoon. A vigorous cold front will advance into the Burley
area around noon and then eastward into Pocatello and Idaho Falls
around 3 PM. Strong WSW winds are expected behind the front across
the Lower Snake River Plain, Eastern Magic Valley, and South-central
Highlands this afternoon and evening prompting a wind advisory for
that region. Strong NW winds will spill out of the CNTRL mountains
and across the Upper Snake River Plain after 3 PM this afternoon
resulting in a Snake Plain Convergence event and as much as 3 to 5
inches of snow along the Hwy 20/I-15/I-86 corridor from Rexburg to
American Falls late this afternoon and evening prompting a winter
weather advisory for the Upper and Lower Snake River Plain. The ERN
mountains will receive a healthy shot of snow under this passing
system with upwards of 4 to 9 inches of accumulation with the bulk
of that falling early this evening. A Winter Weather Advisory
continues for that region and has been expanded southward into the
Bear Lake region through tonight. The trough exits the region Monday
morning with a drier and colder NW flow advancing across the region
Monday and Tuesday. Huston

.LONG TERM...Wednesday through Sunday. High pressure will be in
control with a Rex Block weather pattern over our area. This will
bring little change in weather conditions Wednesday through
Saturday. Global models start to show some movement by Sunday, at
least offshore, with the approach of a cold front. This would break
up the high but it will not change our weather quite yet. NP/MH
&&

.AVIATION...Lowered ceilings and visibilities expected today at all
TAF sites resulting from the progression of multiple bands of rain
and snow. Lighter snow showers are forecast to begin this forecast
period (this morning) with stronger bands at PIH, IDA, BYI and DIJ
mid-afternoon and this evening. Expect the lowest ceilings and
visibility to occur during this time frame.  Some improvement to
visibility is forecast after sunset. For SUN, thinking it will
mainly be light snow showers today though ceilings are likely to
reduce here for the morning hours as well and improve early this
afternoon. Additionally, strong winds from late morning through
early evening will gust to 40 mph at BYI, PIH and BYI with gusty
conditions at DIJ and SUN as well. For the overnight hours and early
Monday morning, there is potential for developing fog/low stratus at
DIJ, PIH and BYI with not much indication for this at the remainder
of the TAF sites. NP/MH
&&

.AIR STAGNATION...Potential air quality issues may develop next week
under building high pressure, trapping air under daily strong
inversions. Currently, air quality models are not showing
significant indications of particulates becoming trapped in the
middle of next week but it will bear monitoring. NP/MH
&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory from noon to 11 PM MST tonight for IDZ017-021-022.

Winter Weather Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 11 PM MST
tonight for IDZ020-021.

Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM this morning to 4 AM MST Monday
for IDZ019-023-025.

Winter Weather Advisory continues until 3 PM MST this afternoon for
IDZ018-031 above 6500 feet.
&&

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 3, 8:07 AM MST, 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
807 AM MST SUN DEC 3 2017

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

0800 AM     SNOW             STANLEY                 44.22N 114.93W
12/03/2017  M2.0 INCH        CUSTER             ID   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL. THE DURATION OF THE SNOW
            EVENT WAS 24 HOURS.

&&

JKEYES

Local storm report, Dec 3, 8:13 AM MST, 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
813 AM MST SUN DEC 3 2017

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

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       16 NW STANLEY           44.30N 115.23W
12/03/2017  E6.8 INCH        BOISE              ID   MESONET

            BANNER SUMMIT SNOTEL 7040 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             33 WNW ARCO             43.75N 113.93W
12/03/2017  E4.9 INCH        CUSTER             ID   MESONET

            BEAR CANYON SNOTEL 7903 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             11 NE SPENCER           44.43N 112.00W
12/03/2017  E1.5 INCH        CLARK              ID   MESONET

            CRAB CREEK SNOTEL 6686 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             20 NW KETCHUM           43.88N 114.67W
12/03/2017  E4.6 INCH        BLAINE             ID   MESONET

            GALENA SNOTEL 7440 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             22 NW KETCHUM           43.87N 114.72W
12/03/2017  E3.3 INCH        BLAINE             ID   MESONET

            GALENA SUMMIT SNOTEL 8782 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             30 NNW ARCO             44.02N 113.47W
12/03/2017  E1.3 INCH        CUSTER             ID   MESONET

            HILTS CREEK SNOTEL 8001 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             11 ENE HAILEY           43.72N 114.17W
12/03/2017  E1.1 INCH        BLAINE             ID   MESONET

            HYNDMAN SNOTEL 7440 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             25 WNW ISLAND PARK      44.58N 111.82W
12/03/2017  E1.3 INCH        BEAVERHEAD         MT   MESONET

            LAKEVIEW RIDGE SNOTEL 7400 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             10 NW KETCHUM           43.82N 114.27W
12/03/2017  E1.4 INCH        BLAINE             ID   MESONET

            LOST WOOD DIVIDE SNOTEL 7903 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       28 NE STANLEY           44.47N 114.48W
12/03/2017  E7.6 INCH        CUSTER             ID   MESONET

            MILL CREEK SUMMIT SNOTEL 8870 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             32 NE MACKAY            44.42N 113.40W
12/03/2017  E2.2 INCH        LEMHI              ID   MESONET

            MOONSHINE SNOTEL 7440 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             24 N CHALLIS            44.85N 114.27W
12/03/2017  E1.7 INCH        LEMHI              ID   MESONET

            MORGAN CREEK SNOTEL 7600 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             17 SW MACKAY            43.73N 113.83W
12/03/2017  E5.7 INCH        CUSTER             ID   MESONET

            SMILEY MOUNTAIN SNOTEL 9520 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             50 NW ARCO              43.87N 114.22W
12/03/2017  E2.8 INCH        CUSTER             ID   MESONET

            STICKNEY MILL SNOTEL 7431 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             21 ENE HAILEY           43.63N 113.97W
12/03/2017  E1.3 INCH        BLAINE             ID   MESONET

            SWEDE PEAK SNOTEL 7641 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             22 NW KETCHUM           43.80N 114.85W
12/03/2017  E5.4 INCH        BLAINE             ID   MESONET

            VIENNA MINE SNOTEL 8963 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

0700 AM     SNOW             8 NW ISLAND PARK        44.53N 111.42W
12/03/2017  E1.8 INCH        FREMONT            ID   MESONET

            WHITE ELEPHANT SNOTEL 7713 MSL. 19-HOUR TOTAL.

&&

JKEYES

Event by event

3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, South Central Highlands

When: December 3, 9:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where: South Central Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Howell Canyon SNOTEL carried 11 inches if snow and the Bostetter Ranger Station SNOTEL had 8 inches.

Heavy Snow, Caribou Highlands

When: December 3, 10:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where: Caribou Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Public

The Pebble Creek Ski Resort south of Pocatello received 8 inches of snow with the Wildhorse Divide SNOTEL reporting 9 inches. 6 inches fell at Somsen Ranch SNOTEL.

Heavy Snow, Upper Snake River Plain

When: December 3, 4:00 PM MST to 10:00 PM MST
Where: Upper Snake River Plain forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media

The Idaho Falls and Shelley areas received several reports of 4 to 6 inches of snow from broadcast media and spotters. State troopers reported several slide offs due to snow covered roads.

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 2017 Every state in 2017 This day in weather history Warnings in Idaho, December 2017

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: 732319, 732318, 732320.