The final winter storm of the month brought very heavy high mountain snow as well as strong gusty winds in the 40 to 60 mph range which again closed many roads.
Every event with a place to put it; 16 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 PIH wrote it up.
The final winter storm of the month brought very heavy high mountain snow as well as strong gusty winds in the 40 to 60 mph range which again closed many roads.
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 Feb 25, 1:57 PM MST, 6 hours 3 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pocatello ID 157 PM MST Thu Feb 25 2021 .SHORT TERM...Tonight through Saturday night. Complex system working toward East Idaho this afternoon. Satellite imagery shows well-defined shortwave moving through the state. Snow already falling in West Idaho, and should rapidly fill in across higher elevations for the rest of the afternoon into the evening. Expect a brief period of snowfall in the Snake Plain though northwest winds will shadow most of this area. Surface cold front passes through overnight, with winds picking up drastically towards sunrise. Strong 700mb flow will aid wind development through the day, also helping maintain strong orographics in westerly facing elevation areas for enhanced snowfall through the day. Expect some snow development later in the day for portions of the Snake Plain that have remained dry thus far, which would include most of the I-15/86 corridor. Winds decrease into the evening Friday, but snowfall expected to continue overnight and even into Saturday for several areas, though character of the snowfall will turn more showery/lightly convective especially morning and early afternoon. Rapid decrease in snow is expected Saturday afternoon and evening across most of the area. Given the complexity of the system and the differences in timing with wind/snow development, have opted for a blend of headlines. Have maintained previously issued Winter Storm Warnings/Advisory, and added a Wind Advisory and more areas to the Winter Weather Advisory. Overall snow totals and wind speeds have remained fairly consistent with previous forecast, so the confidence factor has increased moving into the event. DMH .LONG TERM...Sunday through Thursday. Long term should have very minimal impacts. Sunday will be dry behind the Friday-Saturday system with ridging moving in. Will have a chance of light snow showers Monday afternoon through Tuesday with the potential of Canadian short wave dropping south. GFS still dry on those days with European model consistent in dropping wave south with some precipitation. Forecast grids more in line with European solution and some precipitation. Wednesday and Thursday are dry on all models with more ridging moving into Idaho. Temperatures will start out very cold Sunday behind the large system and cold frontal passage and will stay below normal through Wednesday with slight warming each day. By Thursday temperatures are expected to reach seasonal normal for early March with low elevations expected to reach the 40s for highs. GK && .AVIATION... A strong cold front will bring snow and winds to TAF sites tonight and Friday. Brought snow and MVFR ceilings into DIJ at 01Z and reduced visibility to 3 SM after 07Z. Brought in some TEMPO snow groups Friday morning at IDA and PIH and at least some MVFR ceilings as well. Introduced 15 to 25 knot sustained winds at BYi, PIH and IDA as well in the 04Z to 12 Z time frame with gusts over 30 knots. Have some light snow at SUN as well with some MVFR ceilings by afternoon at SUN. Between snow and high winds at all sites Friday will not be a great flying day . GK && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory from 3 AM to 7 PM MST Friday for IDZ052-054-055- 057. Winter Weather Advisory from 3 AM to 11 PM MST Friday for IDZ053- 056-058-062. Winter Storm Warning from 6 PM this evening to 10 PM MST Friday for IDZ072-073. Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 11 PM MST Friday for IDZ066. Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight to 6 AM MST Saturday for IDZ060-063>065. &&
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
16 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm total snowfall estimated at SNOTEL sites was 21 inches at Emigrant Summit and 24 inches at Franklin Basin.
Heavy snow was limited to elevations above 7 thousand feet. SNOTEL amounts were: 30.4 inches at Garfield Ranger Station, 19 inches at Smiley Mountain, and 12.4 inches at Stickney Mill.
The Sheep Mountain SNOTEL estimated 13.3 inches of snow. The Bone COOP site measured 5 inches of snow. Bonneville County Sherris Department closed Bone Road south of Lincoln Road on the 26th.
Snow amounts estimated at SNOTEL sites were: 17 inches Giveout, 13 inches Slug Creek Divide, and 16 inches at Somsen Ranch. The Swan Valley COOP site received 4 inches. US Highway 26 closed on the 26th due to 45 to 55 mph wind gusts from Ririe to Swan Valley.
Very heavy snow fell above 7 thousand feet with the following SNOTEL snowfall estimates: Crab Creek 10 inches, Island Park 23 inches, and White Elephant 30.5 inches. The Island Park COOP observer recorded 6 inches.
Snowfall was estimated at 14 inches at the Mill Creek Summit SNOTEL.
Snowfall estimated at the Hilt's Creek SNOTEL site was 13 inches.
Heavy snow was above 7 thousand feet. The Sedgwick Peak SNOTEL snowfall was estimated at 24.6 inches. Only 2 inches fell at the McCammon and Inkom COOP sites. 8 inches fell at the Mink Creek Nordic Center.
Heavy snowfall was limited to very high elevations. The Stanley COOP site only measured 2 inches of snow. Snowfall was estimated at 33.5 inches at the Vienna Mine SNOTEL site.
Snowfall estimates at the SNOTEL sites were 18 inches at Bostetter Ranger Station and 25 inches at Howell Canyon.
High elevation snowfall estimates at SNOTEL sites were: 15 inches at Dollarhide Summit, 12 inches at Galena, 17 inches at Galena Summit, and 22 inches at Lost Wood Divide.
Two inches of snow fell in Ashton. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph caused whiteout conditions and road closure on the morning of the 26th into the day on the 27th. State Highway 32 was closed from Ashton to Tetonia. State Highway 33 was closed from Newdale to Tetonia. Ashton Elementary and North Fremont Jr and Sr High Schools were released at 1045 AM on the 26th due to worsening road conditions.
US Highway 26 was closed on the 26th into the 27th from Ririe to Swan Valley. Sate Highway 33 was closed as well from Newdale to Tetonia. Bonneville County Sheriff's office closed Bone Road South of Lincoln Road as well as Sunnyside Road east of Founder's Point at approximately 60th East. Idaho Falls received 2 inches of snow and combined with 40 to 50 mph wind gusts to reduce visibilities and make snow removal impossible due to blowing and drifting.
The Pine Creek Pass SNOTEL estimated 12.3 inches of snow.
Interstate 84 was closed at the interstate 86 interchange south to exit 263 at Juniper on the 27th. Winds were gusting up to 60 mph causing drifting over the road and whiteout conditions.
Interstate 84 was closed from the interstate 86 interchange south to exit 263. Winds were gusting up to 55 mph causing whiteouts.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Idaho in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, February 2021
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: 945369, 945395, 945398, 945440, 945446, 945448, 945450, 945452, 945457, 945458, 945459, 945460, 945461, 945383, 945455, 945447.