Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Idaho, January 5 to 7, 2019

Name: Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Idaho, January 5 to 7, 2019
Start: 2019-01-05T16:00
End: 2019-01-07T20:00
Location: Idaho

January 5 to 7, 2019 · NWS PIH · 17 events in 17 counties and zones

A significant winter storm affected southeast Idaho for several days with heavy snow and strong winds creating closed roads, multiple traffic accidents and many school closings on January 7th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 17 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 17

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 significant winter storm affected southeast Idaho for several days with heavy snow and strong winds creating closed roads, multiple traffic accidents and many school closings on January 7th.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 winter storm, 2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Centennial Mountains-Island Park

When: January 5, 4:00 PM MST to January 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Centennial Mountains-Island Park forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 44.091, -111.680 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy snow and strong winds occurred for close to two days in the Centennial Mountains. A storm total of 14 inches was reported by the COOP observer at Island Park. Fremont County School District 215 was closed on January 7th due to the roads. Idaho Highway 47 was closed from Ashton to Warm River.

Winter Storm, Bear River Range

When: January 5, 6:00 PM MST to January 7, 6:00 PM MST
Where: Bear River Range forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 42.412, -111.568 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Both the Emigrant Summit and Franklin Basin SNOTEL sites had reported over 9 inches of snow by the afternoon of January 6th with more falling through the 7th but no further totals were recorded.

Winter Storm, Beaverhead-Lemhi Highlands

When: January 5, 8:00 PM MST to January 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Beaverhead-Lemhi Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Local Official
Coordinates: 44.004, -112.761 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A strong winter storm produced heavy snowfall and very strong winds making travel extremely hazardous. A semi-truck and snow plow got in an accident on interstate 15 six miles south of Dubois on the 7th. Clark County School District 161 closed on January 7th due to the dangerous travel conditions. The COOP observer 6 miles north of Small recorded 6.3 inches of snow from the storm.

Winter Storm, Teton Valley

When: January 5, 8:00 PM MST to January 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Teton Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Local Official
Coordinates: 43.924, -111.450 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds and snow caused the Fremont School District 215 and Teton School District 401 to close on January 7th. Idaho Highway 32 was closed from Ashton to Tetonia and Idaho Highway 47 was closed from Ashton to Warm River. Although wind made snow measurements difficult it was estimated 4 to 8 inches fell in the Tetonia and Driggs area.

Winter Storm, Big Hole Mountains

When: January 5, 8:00 PM MST to January 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Big Hole Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Local Official
Coordinates: 43.644, -111.494 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Teton County School District 401 closed on January 7th due to snow and strong winds. Snow amounts were estimated at 4 to 8 inches for the storm.

Winter Storm, Caribou Range

When: January 5, 8:00 PM MST to January 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Caribou Range forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 42.815, -111.502 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

US Highway 26 closed between Ririe and Swan Valley on January 7th due to the snow and high winds causing extensive drifting . Snow amounts were 3.5 inches at the Swan Valley COOP site with 4 to 8 inches at higher elevation SNOTEL sites.

Winter Storm, Bear Lake Valley

When: January 5, 8:00 PM MST to January 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Bear Lake Valley forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.285, -111.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy snow and strong winds were widespread in the Bear Lake Valley. The COOP observer at Bern recorded 12 inches of total snowfall with the storm along with 50 mph winds and zero visibility on the morning of the 7th.

Winter Storm, Blackfoot Mountains

When: January 5, 8:00 PM MST to January 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Blackfoot Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Local Official
Coordinates: 43.125, -111.858 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Grace School District 148 and Soda Springs Joint School District 150 were closed on January 7th due to snow and very strong winds causing difficult travel. The Bone COOP site reported 7 inches of snow with the system.

Winter Storm, Franklin-Eastern Oneida Region

When: January 5, 8:00 PM MST to January 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Franklin-Eastern Oneida Region forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 42.188, -112.176 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy snow combined with strong winds shut down Idaho Highway 38 between Holbrook and Malad City. The Preston COOP site reported 9.5 inches of snow and the Malad City COOP site reported 8 inches. Oneida School District 351 closed on January 7th due to the conditions.

Winter Storm, Raft River Region

When: January 5, 8:00 PM MST to January 7, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Raft River Region forecast zone
Reported by: Local Official
Coordinates: 42.391, -112.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Oneida County School District 351 was closed January 7th due to high winds causing blowing snow and dangerous travel.

Winter Storm, Lost River Range

When: January 5, 8:00 PM MST to January 7, 3:00 PM MST
Where: Lost River Range forecast zone
Reported by: Local Official
Coordinates: 43.982, -113.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Butte County School District 111 was closed on January 7th due to snow and high winds.

Winter Storm, Lost River Valleys

When: January 5, 8:00 PM MST to January 7, 3:00 PM MST
Where: Lost River Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: Local Official
Coordinates: 43.982, -113.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Butte County School District 111 was closed due to snow and high winds creating difficult travel on January 7th.

Heavy Snow, Sun Valley Region

When: January 5, 8:00 PM MST to January 7, 3:00 PM MST
Where: Sun Valley Region forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.826, -114.131 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extremely heavy snow fell in the Sun Valley region. The Ketchum Ranger Station recorded 14.5 inches of snow with a spotter reporting 16 inches 6 miles sough of Sun Valley.

Heavy Snow, Wood River Foothills

When: January 5, 8:00 PM MST to January 7, 2:00 PM MST
Where: Wood River Foothills forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.412, -113.980 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extremely heavy snow fell in the Wood River Foothills. Amounts measured were: 16 inches 4 miles northwest of Bellevue, 14 inches 2 miles north-northwest of Hailey, 10.3 inches at the Bellevue COOP station, 11 inches 3 miles north of Hailey, and 9 inches at the Picabo COOP station.

Winter Storm, Upper Snake River Plain

When: January 5, 9:00 PM MST to January 7, 5:00 PM MST
Where: Upper Snake River Plain forecast zone
Reported by: Local Official
Coordinates: 43.805, -111.767 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall and very strong winds caused extremely difficult travel in the Upper Snake River Plain . The following schools were closed on January 7th due to road conditions caused by the snow and wind: Madison School District 321, Fremont School District 215, Sugar-Salem Joint School District 322, Ririe School District 252. Snow amounts were not extraordinarily heavy with COOP observers reporting 3 inches in Rigby and 4.5 inches in Hamer. US Highway 26 was closed from Ririe to Swan Valley due to the snow and wind on the 7th.

Winter Storm, Arco-Mud Lake Desert

When: January 5, 9:00 PM MST to January 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Arco-Mud Lake Desert forecast zone
Reported by: Local Official
Coordinates: 43.537, -112.374 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Very strong winds combined with snowfall caused the West Jefferson School District 253 and the Butte County School District 111 to close on January 7th.

Winter Storm, Marsh and Arbon Highlands

When: January 5, 9:00 PM MST to January 7, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Marsh and Arbon Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Local Official
Coordinates: 42.838, -112.256 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A strong winter storm brought snow and high winds which created very difficult travel on Monday, January 7th. Marsh Valley School district 21 was closed January 7th due to the winds and snow. Interstate 15 was closed on the southbound for three hours in southern Bannock County between the Downey and Hawkins Road exits due to very low visibility. Snow amounts were not extremely heavy but 3.5 inches fell at the Downey COOP site and 4 inches at the Inkom COOP site.

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
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 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in Idaho, January 2019

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 801043, 801057, 801031, 801048, 801050, 801051, 801053, 801060, 801061, 802207, 802209, 802211, 802212, 802214, 801022, 801027, 802208.