Winter Storm in Idaho, January 17, 2020

Name: Winter Storm in Idaho, January 17, 2020
Start: 2020-01-17T00:00
End: 2020-01-17T20:00
Location: Idaho

January 17, 2020 · NWS PIH · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A strong cold front brought the combination of light snow and wind and various road closures to southeast Idaho. Snowfall amounts were not heavy and in the 1 to 4 inch range.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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 strong cold front brought the combination of light snow and wind and various road closures to southeast Idaho. Snowfall amounts were not heavy and in the 1 to 4 inch range. Roads closed were Idaho route 33 from Newdale to Tetonia, Idaho 47 from Ashton to Warm River, Idaho 32 from Ashton to Tetonia, US 26 from Ririe to Swan Valley, Idaho 81 from Malta to the Cotterell Port of Entry, Idaho 77 from Malta to Albion, and interstate 84 from Burley to the Utah border.

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 Jan 16, 1:34 PM MST, 10 hours 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 16, 1:34 PM MST, 10 hours 26 minutes before

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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Raft River Region

When: January 17, 12:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where: Raft River Region forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 42.391, -112.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A fast moving cold front brought snow and high winds to the Raft River Region. Interstate 84 was closed from 11 miles east of Heyburn to the Utah border due to the 1 to 4 inch snowfall and wind gusts of 50-60 mph making it impassable. It re-opened at 2 pm. Idaho route 81 was closed from Malta to the Cotterell port of entry due to the high winds and Idaho 77 was closed from Malta to Albion due to the winds as well. Visibility was reduced to zero for much of the morning .

Winter Storm, Upper Snake River Plain

When: January 17, 12:00 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where: Upper Snake River Plain forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 43.805, -111.767 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A strong cold front moved through the Upper Snake River Plain with high winds and light snow making travel extremely hazardous. Snow amounts generally only ranged from a half inch to 3 inches but combined with 40 to 50 mph wind gusts made snow removal difficult. Idaho Route 33 closed from Newdale to Tetonia and US Highway 26 was closed from Ririe to Swan Valley. The following schools were closed on the 17th: Bonneville Joint District 93, Idaho Falls District 91, and Jefferson District 251.

Winter Storm, Eastern Magic Valley

When: January 17, 12:00 AM MST to 3:00 PM MST
Where: Eastern Magic Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 42.811, -113.514 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A strong cold front moved through the Magic Valley and produced light snow with high winds causing hazardous travel conditions. Snow amounts in the Eastern Magic Valley generally ranged from 2 to 4 inches with 3 inches reported in Heyburn. Interstate 84 was closed for much of the day from 11 miles east of Heyburn to the Utah border due to the wind gusts causing zero visibility and significant drifting snow.

Winter Storm, Lower Snake River Plain

When: January 17, 12:00 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where: Lower Snake River Plain forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 42.860, -112.488 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A strong cold front brought light snow but included very strong winds which created very hazardous travel. Snow amounts were widespread in the 1 to 3 inch range with extensive blowing and drifting snow. The following schools closed on the 17th: Aberdeen District 58, American Falls District 381, and Blackfoot District 55. It was a scheduled day off for Pocatello District 25 but the following private schools closed in Pocatello: Connor Academy, Gem Prep, and Pocatello Community Charter School.

Winter Storm, Teton Valley

When: January 17, 12:00 AM MST to 2:00 PM 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 strong cold front brought light snow and high winds to the Teton Valley. Snow amounts were light in the 1 to 3 inch range but strong winds again brought extensive blowing and drifting snow which caused road and school closures. Idaho Highway 47 was closed from Ashton to Warm River and Idaho Highway 32 was also closed from Ashton to Tetonia. Ashton Elementary School and North Fremont Junior and Senior High Schools in Ashton were also closed. The town of Driggs was completely isolated for a short period on the 17th with no open roads in or out of the city.

Winter Storm, Southern Hills-Albion Mountains

When: January 17, 1:00 AM MST to 3:00 PM MST
Where: Southern Hills-Albion Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 42.284, -113.600 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A strong cold front brought only 1 to 3 inches of snow but combined with wind gusts up to 60 mph made travel extremely hazardous. Idaho Route 77 from Malta to Albion closed due to the drifting snow and zero visibility.

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 873807, 873900, 873901, 873902, 873904, 873899.