Winter Storm in Idaho, January 10 to 15, 2020

Name: Winter Storm in Idaho, January 10 to 15, 2020
Start: 2020-01-10T20:00
End: 2020-01-15T16:00
Location: Idaho

January 10 to 15, 2020 · NWS PIH · 20 events in 20 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 20 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: 20

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 major multi day storm affected all of southeast Idaho with very heavy snow, road closures, and school closings widespread. Five day snow totals exceeded a foot in many locations with as much as three feet in some mountain locations. Some high elevation SNOTEL sites exceeded 5 feet. Some of the road closures by the 11th and 12th were US Route 26 from Swan Valley to Ririe, interstate 15 from Dubois to the Montana state line, US Route 20 from Ashton to the Montana state line, Idaho Route 33 from Newdale to Tetonia, and Idaho route 32 from Ashton to Tetonia. Many Idaho school districts closed on the 13th and 14 as well.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

20 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Centennial Mountains-Island Park

When: January 10, 8:00 PM MST to January 15, 4:00 PM MST
Where: Centennial Mountains-Island Park forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 44.091, -111.680 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A long lasting winter storm closed roads and schools and began late on the 10th and continued to the 15th. Some of the snow amounts over the period were 30 inches at the Island Park COOP site, 33 inches 2 miles north of Macks Inn, an estimated 58 inches at the White Elephant SNOTEL site, and 32 inches at the Crab Creek SNOTEL. Road closures from the 11th through the 14th were US Highway 20 was shut down from Ashton to the Montana state line, ID 47 was closed from Ashton to Bear Gulch, ID Highway 87 was closed from US 20 to the Montana state line. Fremont County Schools were closed from the 11th through the 14th due to the extreme winter weather conditions and road closures. The heavy snow combined with strong winds caused extensive blowing and drifting snow and was the main cause for the several day road closures.

Winter Storm, Bear River Range

When: January 10, 8:00 PM MST to January 15, 3:00 AM MST
Where: Bear River Range forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 42.412, -111.568 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A multi day winter storm brought significant snowfall to the Bear River Range. Estimated snow totals at SNOTEL sites were 28 inches at Emigrant Summit and 35 inches at Franklin Basin.

Winter Storm, Lost River Range

When: January 10, 8:00 PM MST to January 15, 7:00 AM MST
Where: Lost River Range forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 43.982, -113.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Very heavy snow fell over an extended period of time in the Lost River Range. The Hilts Creek SNOTEL snowfall estimate for the storm was 28 inches.

Winter Storm, Teton Valley

When: January 10, 8:00 PM MST to January 15, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Teton Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 43.924, -111.450 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A multiple day winter storm with heavy snow and high winds shut down many roads in the Teton Valley. 12 to 20 inches fell in the Victor area for the duration of the storm. Strong winds caused extensive blowing and drifting snow on roadways and made them impossible to clear. Idaho 32 closed from Tetonia to Ashton on the 11th through the 14th. Idaho 33 closed from Tetonia and Newdale. US 20 closed from Ashton to the Montana border. Fremont County School District 215, Madison School district 321, and Teton School District 401 were closed from the 13th through the 15th.

Winter Storm, Wood River Foothills

When: January 10, 8:00 PM MST to January 15, 1:00 AM 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 snowfall occurred in this long duration winter storm with Hailey, Picabo, and Bellevue all receiving between 15 and 22 inches of snow through the storm.

Winter Storm, Beaverhead-Lemhi Highlands

When: January 10, 9:00 PM MST to January 15, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Beaverhead-Lemhi Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 44.004, -112.761 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A powerful winter storm combined snow with strong winds to create extremely hazardous travel conditions. Interstate 15 closed from Dubois north to the Montana border on the 12th through the 14th before reopening on the 14th. Snowfall total at Dubois through the period was only 6 inches but the winds made snow removal nearly impossible for road crews. The snowfall total at Small was 10 inches including 8 inches on the 11th.

Winter Storm, Big Hole Mountains

When: January 10, 9:00 PM MST to January 15, 7:00 AM MST
Where: Big Hole Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.644, -111.494 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A powerful winter storm brought heavy snow and very strong winds to the region. A trained spotter 4 miles west of Victor recorded 17.5 inches of snow through the 13th with the storm.

Winter Storm, Big Lost Highlands-Copper Basin

When: January 10, 9:00 PM MST to January 15, 1:00 PM MST
Where: Big Lost Highlands-Copper Basin forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 43.792, -113.811 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A multi day powerful winter storm brought extremely heavy snow to the region. Estimated SNOTEL amounts over the period were the following: Bear Canyon 28 inches, Garfield Ranger Station 39 inches, Smiley Mountain 44 inches, Stickney Mill 23 inches, and Swede Peak 29 inches.

Winter Storm, Frank Church Wilderness

When: January 10, 9:00 PM MST to January 15, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Frank Church Wilderness forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 44.241, -114.282 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Very heavy snow fell during this long lasting Pacific storm. 31 inches fell at the Mill Creek Summit SNOTEL site.

Winter Storm, Sawtooth-Stanley Basin

When: January 10, 9:00 PM MST to January 15, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Sawtooth-Stanley Basin forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.826, -114.131 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A long lasting winter storm brought extremely heavy snow to the region. An incredible 78 inches of snow was estimated at the Vienna Mine SNOTEL site at 9 thousand feet. The Stanley COOP site recorded 18 inches of snow.

Winter Storm, Southern Hills-Albion Mountains

When: January 10, 9:00 PM MST to January 15, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Southern Hills-Albion Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 42.284, -113.600 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The multi day storm system dropped an estimated 32 inches at the Bostetter Ranger Station SNOTEL and an estimated 41 inches at the Howell Canyon SNOTEL.

Winter Storm, Sun Valley Region

When: January 10, 9:00 PM MST to January 15, 4:00 AM 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)

A multi day snow storm brought 13 inches of snow to Ketchum with the following estimated SNOTEL amounts: Chocolate Gulch 36 inches, Dollarhide Summit 39 inches, Galena 31 inches, Galena Summit 40 inches, Hyndman 20 inches, and Lost Wood Divide 33 inches.

Winter Storm, Caribou Range

When: January 10, 10:00 PM MST to January 15, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Caribou Range forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 42.815, -111.502 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A long lasting winter storm brought very heavy snow to the Caribou Range. SNOTEL snow estimates were 21 inches at Giveout, 25 inches at Slug Creek Divide, and 18 inches at Somsen Ranch.

Winter Storm, Marsh and Arbon Highlands

When: January 10, 10:00 PM MST to January 15, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Marsh and Arbon Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 42.838, -112.256 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A long lasting winter storm dropped heavy snow and very hazardous travel conditions to the Marsh and Arbon Highlands. 18 inches of snow fell in Inkom with 5 inches in Downey and 9 inches in McCammon. The Sedgwick Peak SNOTEL received an estimated 21 inches and the Wildhorse Divide SNOTEL an estimated 22 inches. The Marsh Valley School District 21 was closed on the 14th.

Winter Storm, Arco-Mud Lake Desert

When: January 11, 12:00 AM MST to January 15, 4:00 AM MST
Where: Arco-Mud Lake Desert forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.537, -112.374 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy snow combined with winds to cause extreme travel conditions across the region. Craters of the Moon National Monument reported 16 inches of snow from the multi day storm and the snow combined with winds to cause Jefferson County School District to close on the 11th and 12th.

Winter Storm, Blackfoot Mountains

When: January 11, 12:00 AM MST to January 15, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Blackfoot Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.125, -111.858 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A long lasting winter storm dumped heavy snow and combined with high winds to make travel very difficult for nearly a week. The COOP observer in Bone recorded 12 inches of snow including 8 inches on the 12th-14th. An estimated 25 inches fell at the Sheep Mountain SNOTEL site.

Winter Storm, Shoshone-Lava Beds

When: January 11, 12:00 AM MST to January 15, 1:00 AM MST
Where: Shoshone-Lava Beds forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.089, -113.918 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A strong Pacific storm persisted for several days and the Richfield COOP observer recorded 12 inches of snow including 8 inches on the 13th and 14th.

Winter Storm, Upper Snake River Plain

When: January 11, 12:00 AM MST to January 15, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Upper Snake River Plain forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.805, -111.767 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A multi day storm brought heavy snow and strong winds which shut down schools and roads in the Upper Snake River Plain. Storm total snowfall for the duration were 11 inches at Idaho Falls, 9.5 inches at Sugar City and Rigby, and 5 inches at Saint Anthony. Interstate 15 shut down between Idaho Falls and Roberts on the 12th through the 14th due to the very strong winds causing extensive blowing and drifting snow . School closures on the 13th through the 15th were Bonneville Joint District 93, Idaho Falls District 91, Jefferson District 251, Madison District 321, Ririe District 252, Sugar-Salem District 322, West Jefferson District 253.

Winter Storm, Bear Lake Valley

When: January 11, 1:00 AM MST to January 15, 5:00 AM 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 combined with winds to cause hazardous travel in the Bear Lake Valley. The Bern COOP site reported 21.5 inches of snow with the storm including 13 inches on the 13th. Bear Lake School District 33 was closed due to the hazardous travel on the 14th. Montpelier received over a foot of snow on the 13th as well.

Winter Storm, Lower Snake River Plain

When: January 11, 4:00 AM MST to January 15, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Lower Snake River Plain forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.860, -112.488 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A prolonged winter storm with snow and strong winds affected the Lower Snake Plain from the 11th through the 15th. Although snow amounts were not extreme, the combination of wind with the snow caused extremely hazardous travel conditions. The following schools were closed on both the 13th and 14th: Aberdeen district 58, Blackfoot district 55, Firth district 59, Shelley district 60, and Snake River district 52. 9 inches of snow fell in Aberdeen through the storm's duration with 5 inches in American Falls, and 4.5 inches in Pocatello.

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Idaho in 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history Warnings in Idaho, January 2020

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 873378, 873711, 873740, 873750, 873768, 873728, 873729, 873730, 873736, 873746, 873748, 873749, 873732, 873745, 873709, 873731, 873747, 873754, 873710, 873744.