A prolonged period of snowfall brought impacts to lower elevations of north central Idaho February 19th and 20th.
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 MSO wrote it up.
A prolonged period of snowfall brought impacts to lower elevations of north central Idaho February 19th and 20th.
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 19, 2:45 AM PST, 10 hours 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
345 AM MST Tue Feb 19 2019
...Significant snow accumulations for North Central
Idaho tonight through Wednesday...
.DISCUSSION...Very light scattered snow showers will continue
across the mountains and valleys of the Northern Rockies this
morning. One area that could see slightly higher intensities, will
be along the east side of Flathead lake from Woods Bay to Polson,
due to lake enhanced snow showers. Isolated areas of 1 to 2
inches of snow will be possible in those locations. Elsewhere a
light dusting is most likely.
Our next winter storm is still on track to begin to impact north-
central Idaho this evening, and continuing through much of the
day on Wednesday. A North Pacific low pressure system will begin
to move into the region this evening around sunset, and track over
the Camas Prairie and the Clearwater Mountains overnight tonight.
This particular flow pattern is a good snow producer for all
elevations, with some locations receiving several inches of snow.
At this time, the higher amounts are expected to fall across
Clearwater County and along and north of Highway 12 in Idaho
County. Locations from Orofino to Lowell are expected to receive
up to 6 inches, with isolate higher amounts possible. The higher
communities, such as Elk River and Pierce should see up to 8
inches or more of snow. Grangeville and vicinity will see a few
inches as well, but an increase in southwesterly winds should
limit some of the snow accumulations. However, the winds will
create further impacts due to reduced visibility from blowing and
drifting snow. The lowest elevations around Riggins will not be
left out either, where 3 to 5 inches of snow is expected.
Western Montana will miss out on the higher accumulations this go
around. Most areas will see anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of snow,
with isolated slightly higher amounts as you increase in
elevation. A number of winter weather highlights have been issued
for north-central Idaho starting tonight. Details and locations on
advisories, watches, and warnings can be found by visiting our
website at www.weather.gov/missoula.
The Northern Rockies will remain under a broad trough of low
pressure through Thursday, that will keep scattered snow showers
for the mountains and valleys in the forecast.
Between late Friday through early next week, there will be several
Pacific weather systems that will bring more snowfall to region.
It seems like a broken record with continued chances for snow.
Expect day-time highs to be 10 to 15 degrees below normal.
&&
.AVIATION...Light snow showers will continue for many locations
across the Northern Rockies through mid morning. Low stratus of
around 900 feet could also develop around sunrise for KGPI and
KMSO, but isn't expected to linger much past 19/1500Z this
morning. Expect mountain obscurations for most of the day
throughout the region. Another round of light to moderate snow is
forecast to return to the region this evening for all aviation
sites after 20/0000Z, and linger over the Northern Rockies through
Wednesday.
&&
.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 5 PM MST
Wednesday Lower Clark Fork Region.
ID...Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST
Wednesday Northern Clearwater Mountains.
Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST
Wednesday Orofino/Grangeville Region.
Winter Storm Watch from this afternoon through Wednesday
afternoon Lower Hells Canyon/Salmon River Region.
Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST
Wednesday Southern Clearwater Mountains.
Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 5 PM MST
Wednesday Western Lemhi County.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snowfall led to delays and closures of schools on February 20th with 6 to 8 inches of snow being observed in the towns of Orofino, Greer, and Kooskia.
A period of moderate to heavy snowfall caused travel impacts on US 95 from Grangeville to Riggins. 5 to 6 inches of snow fell on Whitebird Hill and 4 inches of snow was reported in Riggins.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Idaho in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, February 2019
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 805774, 805775.