Another in a series of snow storms pummeled parts of Eastern Oregon and Southwest Idaho.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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.
Another in a series of snow storms pummeled parts of Eastern Oregon and Southwest Idaho.
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 Jan 7, 3:36 AM MST, 5 hours 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Boise ID
336 AM MST Sat Jan 7 2017
.SHORT TERM...Today through Sunday...Significant Pacific storm
will begin affecting the region today with a warm frontal passage.
The models are slight slower with the timing but QPF remains
virtually unchanged from previous runs. Front will reach Southeast
oregon around 18z and then Southwest Idaho around 21z. However,
the front does move through rather quickly which could limit the
snow accumulations. Snow ratios will be above normal, near the 15
to 1, which should produce a widespread 3 to 5 inches of snow with
northwesterly facing slope seeing significantly more (6 to 10
inches). That could be on the high end for snow amounts though as
this system is support by a 115 kt 300 mb Jet which should push
the front through rather quickly. Forecast is more complicated for
Sunday as warm Central Pacific air associated with another warm
front over runs cold arctic surface air beginning. Most guidance
shows the Upper Treasure and Western Magic Valleys mixing out by
Sunday afternoon. This is likely too early given the extremely
cold air in place however, temperatures aloft increase
significantly (40 F at 850 mb) by 00z Monday which should
dramatically drop snow ratios and allow for mixed precipitation in
the valleys. Have cut snow amounts Sunday afternoon but have added
freezing rain and sleet in the Upper Treasure and Western Magic
Valleys. Even with the lower confidence in precipitation type on
Sunday, the end result (whether it be snow, rain or a mix) will
result in hazardous conditions. More details will be in the latest
Winter Storm Warnings.
.LONG TERM...Sunday night through Friday...
Forecast confidence remains high for the region through the extended
period as all models agree showing several upper lows pushing
through the West Coast. The first front pushes across the region
early Monday morning. Biggest concern for this system is the
amount of scouring that takes place of the lower valleys. GFS and
NAM forecast soundings showing the warm sub tropical moisture tap
advecting through the region. This should help raise snow levels
to 4-5000 feet across the west central mountains and Baker
county...to 5-7000 feet near the Nevada border for late Sunday
night into Monday morning...including scouring out the lower
valleys as mentioned above. Precipitation will be very complex
Sunday night through Monday morning with a mixture of rain and
snow with even a period of freezing rain possible across the Lower
Treasure valley before it all mixes out by Monday morning. The
front pushes through Monday bringing scattered showers to most
locations through the afternoon. The next system is fast on it
heels by pushing into the region Tuesday morning lowering snow
levels back to near the valley floors with additional light snow
accumulations. The roller coaster of the snow levels continues
into Wednesday and again Friday as systems push into the region
lifting snow levels back above the valley floors across mainly
southwest Idaho. Temperatures will remain below near or slightly
below normal as the active pattern eliminates frigid air lingering
over the region.
&&
.AVIATION...
VFR. Conditions begin to become MVFR/IFR across Eastern
Oregon 15-17z in low clouds and snow showers...and 18z-21z across
Southwest Idaho. Sleet and freezing rain enter the picture as the
warmer air aloft filters into the region Sunday morning north of the
Nevada border 06z-18z. Precip type north of a Burns to Boise line
should remain basically all snow until early Monday morning when the
snow levels lifts above 5000 feet. Sfc winds south to southeast 10
to 20 kts shifting south to southwest aft 03z. Winds at or near
10kft south 10 to 20 kts increasing and shifting south to southwest
25 to 40 kts after 00z.
&&
.BOI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...Wind Chill Warning until 9 AM MST this morning
IDZ012-014-016-028-030.
Winter Storm Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 11 PM MST
Sunday IDZ011-013-028-033.
Winter Storm Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 5 PM MST Sunday
IDZ012-014>016-029-030.
OR...Wind Chill Warning until 9 AM MST /8 AM PST/ this morning
ORZ062>064.
Winter Storm Warning from 1 PM MST /noon PST/ this afternoon to
5 PM MST /4 PM PST/ Sunday ORZ062-064.
Winter Storm Warning from 5 AM MST /4 AM PST/ early this morning
to 5 PM MST /4 PM PST/ Sunday ORZ061-063.
&&
www.weather.gov/Boise
www.facebook.com/NWSBoise
www.twitter.com/NWSBoise
SHORT TERM...JDS
LONG TERM....CR
AVIATION.....CRThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Trained spotters reported 6 to 8 inches of snow near Harper and Juntura.
A cooperative observer at Owyhee Dam reported 5 inches of snow and trained spotters around Ontario reported 4 to 5 inches.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, January 2017
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: 678698, 678699.