Idaho, 2017

Avalanche in Idaho, February 9 to 11, 2017

February 9 to 11, 2017 · NWS PIH · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Multiple avalanches closed Idaho Highway 75 from Stanley to Clayton from February 9th to the 11th.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

Multiple avalanches closed Idaho Highway 75 from Stanley to Clayton from February 9th to the 11th.

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 9, 2:35 AM MST, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 9, 2:35 AM MST, 1 hour 25 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
235 AM MST Thu Feb 9 2017

.SHORT TERM...Today through Saturday. Another storm system moving
into the Pac NW today will continue to spread rain and high
elevation snow across the area through tonight. Snow levels will
be pushing 8000 ft today...lowering tonight to around 7000 ft. The
heaviest snow is expected in the central mtns where an additional
6 to 12 inches is possible thru tonight. The upper Snake
Highlands may see an additional 3 to 6 inches above 7000 ft. The
main area of precip shifts to the southeast highlands on
Fri...while coverage and amounts decrease elsewhere. By Sat...most
of the precip is in the eastern highlands with fairly light
amounts. Temps will be a few degrees cooler Fri and Sat...but warm
enough to continue melting the low elevation snowpack. Hedges

.LONG TERM...Sunday through Thursday...High pressure will be in
control of the weather pattern the latter half of the weekend and
going into early next week. This will allow for clear skies but
foggy mornings. Chilly temperatures are expected on Sunday as
northerly flow spills into the northern half of our region. Eastern
Magic Valley and the Southern Snake Plain areas are expected to
remain at near normal temperatures. Warmer conditions are expected
for all Monday and Tuesday with a further increasing temperature
trend Wednesday. Temperatures are then likely to settle as the next
weather system approaches from the west on Thursday with increasing
cloud cover and a chance for rain and snow showers is forecast.
NP/Hedges

&&

.AVIATION...Wind shear will be a concern at KSUN throughout the
day. Expect shear in the 30 to 35 kt range but it will not be
impossible for higher amounts of shear to be reached. MVFR ceilings
are forecast to drop to IFR this morning and remain down through
this evening. For KBYI, ceilings will be VFR but it may rain. Even
though we are not forecasting thunderstorms in this region in
particular, there is a slightly elevated concern here for downburst
potential should any convective activity develop nearby. Sounding
data is too favorable to ignore in the late morning to early
afternoon hours of this potential. Ceilings at KDIJ, KIDA and KPIH
are forecast to vary between IFR and MVFR today due to precipitation
activity once again. Winds are expected to be gusty this afternoon
to 30 kts. NP/Hedges

&&

.HYDROLOGY...Rain across the area today and tonight...combined
with warm temps will result in more snowmelt and continuing
flooding problems at lower elevations. Precip is expected to
diminish on Fri...but continued warm temps will prolong the
flooding threat for at least a few more days.
Hedges

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM MST this afternoon for IDZ019-
023.

Winter Storm Warning until 5 AM MST Friday for IDZ018-031.

&&

Event by event

1 avalanche. Local standard time, as filed.

Avalanche, Sawtooth Mountains

When
February 9, 4:00 AM MST to February 11, 1:00 PM MST
Where
Sawtooth Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Department of Highways

Multiple avalanches closed Idaho Highway 75 from Stanley to Clayton from February 9th to the 11th.

What these are

Avalanche
A mass of snow sliding down a mountainside that caused a death, an injury or damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Idaho in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, February 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: 682487.