Blizzard and Winter Storm in Idaho, December 20 to 23, 2022

Name: Blizzard and Winter Storm in Idaho, December 20 to 23, 2022
Start: 2022-12-20T19:00
End: 2022-12-23T14:00
Location: Idaho

December 20 to 23, 2022 · NWS PIH · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

An extremely strong Pacific cold front brought wind gusts in the 50 to 80 mph range with localized blizzard conditions in the mountains and then extremely cold wind chills followed behind an arctic cold frontal passage. Snow amounts in the mountains were generally light and mainly in the 1 to 5 inch range but the combination with the wind brought many road closures to extreme eastern Idaho on…

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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Wind
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Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $14,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

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.

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 Dec 20, 2:31 PM MST, 4 hours 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 20, 2:31 PM MST, 4 hours 29 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
231 PM MST Tue Dec 20 2022

.SHORT TERM...Today and Wednesday. A strong cold front is dropping
down over the state of Washington currently. A dry slot is just
now hitting northwest Washington as seen on water vapor imagery,
indicative of strong winds. Models continue to show this strong
cold front to move into our area tonight through Wednesday. Models
show 45 to 55 knots at 700 mb moving over our area Wednesday
morning through early evening. The Sawtooths and Eastern Highlands
continued to be favored for snow with upslope northwesterly flow.
Look for 3 to 8 inches of snow with up to around 12 inches for
higher peaks favoring upslope northwesterly flow for the
Sawtooth/Stanley Basin and all zones along the Wyoming border.
Have moved the Island Park area/Centennial mountains, Teton
valley, Bear Lake Basin, Blackfoot mountains, Marsh/Albion
Highlands, and Southern Hills/Albion mountains to Winter Storm
warnings due to strong winds. Snow amounts in these areas will be
more on the low to moderate end, 3 to 7 inches with slightly
higher on mountains peaks. However, the wind will create
widespread blowing and drifting of snow, which will make driving
hazardous and cause possible road closures. Wind gusts of 45 to 60
mph are likely for areas in winter storm warnings. The 4.1 NBM
Model shows Botts and Antelope Flats with a 80 to 90 percent
chance of receiving wind gusts greater than 55 mph. All other
areas in our area will receive overall light snow. But, again,
the wind will be very strong creating blowing and drifting snow,
not only from the light new snow but existing snow. All other
areas, outside of the warning areas and ridge tops, will see wind
gusts of 30 to 45 mph. Brief white out conditions from a Snow
Squall could occur with the frontal passage on Wednesday,
especially in the Snake plain.

Behind the cold front, very cold arctic air will be spilling over
the Montana divide. A wind chill warning is in effect for all our
forecast zones (other than mountain zones above 7000 feet)
starting Wednesday evening and will continue through noon on
Thursday. Expect wind chills of -15 to -50 degrees across the
area with the coldest favored in our northern areas, especially
along the Montana Divide.
Wyatt

.LONG TERM...Thursday through next Tuesday.
There will be a short-lived break in precipitation Thursday, however
this day is not free of potential hazards.  Temperatures will drop
by 20-30 degrees between Wednesday and Thursday for most areas
following the cold front.  Frigid temperatures will make for wind
chills early Thursday morning around -20 degrees for Pocatello and
Idaho Falls, as well as further east. Much colder wind chills as
cold as -50 degrees will be realized closer to the Montana border.
Therefore, the Wind Chill Warning will continue through Noon MST
Thursday. High temperatures on Thursday will be highest further
south along the Utah border and generally run in the upper teens.
Further north, highs will only reach the negative and positive
single digits. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you stay
indoors if possible on Thursday to avoid these dangerously cold
temperatures.

As early as Friday, we will begin to see an influx of moisture into
the Pacific Northwest and what may turn out to be an atmospheric
river type event. Integrated Water Vapor Transport (IVT) shows
impressive transport into this region, likely bringing several days
of precipitation to southeast Idaho.  At this time, NBM is
forecasting roughly 10-35% PoPs across much of the CWA, with even
higher probabilities across our mountain zones, each day Friday
through next Tuesday. Temperatures will begin to rebound Friday,
steadily increasing a bit each remaining day of the long-term
period.  By early next week, high temperatures will reach into the
low to mid-40s across the lower Snake Plain and eastern Magic
Valley, with 20s and higher region-wide.  During this timeframe, we
will start to see some rain mix in as temperatures warm.  As the
long-term period comes to a close, the next low pressure system
approaches the PNW early Tuesday.
Cropp

&&

.AVIATION...Light snowfall will continue across the region today
and tomorrow. The greatest chances for impactful snowfall today
will be at KDIJ, with more widespread snowfall forecast tomorrow.
The greatest confidence in IFR conditions is at KDIJ overnight
tonight, where the heaviest snowfall is forecast. Models also
suggest that CIGs could reach IFR early tomorrow at KIDA. Winds
will remain fairly light for much of today but will increase late
tonight and remain windy throughout the day tomorrow as a cold
front moves through. Gusts are expected to reach at least 40 mph
across much of the region. LLWS will also be a likely concern for
most terminals.
Cropp

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
With frigid, sub-zero degree temperatures forecast mid to late week,
rivers and streams will continue to ice over.  Water levels could
rise rapidly upstream of ice buildup.  As temperatures begin to
increase, ice could break up and lead to flooding downstream.

People are urged to use caution along rivers and streams as the
rapid increase in flows are dangerous and potentially destructive.
Keep children and pets away from riverbanks. Those living or
recreating near rivers and streams should remain cautious. High
stream flows can quickly overpower you and cold water could can lead
to hypothermia in minutes.

&&

.AIR QUALITY...
An Air Quality Advisory is in effect for Franklin County through 10
AM MST tomorrow due to stagnant air and degraded air quality.
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects and are
encouraged to limit their exposure.  With the arrival of a cold
front and sufficient mixing tomorrow, air quality will improve.

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory from 11 PM this evening to 5 PM MST
Wednesday for IDZ051>055-067>071-073>075.

Wind Chill Warning from 5 PM Wednesday to noon MST Thursday for
IDZ051>055-058-062-065>068-070-073-075.

Winter Storm Warning from 11 PM this evening to 11 PM MST
Wednesday for IDZ056-060-061.

Wind Chill Warning from 11 PM Wednesday to noon MST Thursday for
IDZ056-057-059-061.

Winter Weather Advisory from 11 PM this evening to 11 PM MST
Wednesday for IDZ057-059.

Winter Storm Warning from 11 PM this evening to 5 PM MST
Wednesday for IDZ058-062.

Winter Storm Warning until 5 PM MST Wednesday for IDZ063>066-072.

&&

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 winter storm, 3 high wind, 2 extreme cold/wind chill, 1 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Centennial Mountains-Island Park

When: December 20, 7:00 PM MST to December 23, 12:00 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)

Extreme winds caused widespread blowing and drifting snow with extensive road closures. US Highway 20 was closed from Ashton to the Montana state line. State Highway 87 was closed from US 20 to the Montana state line. Fremont County School District 215 was closed on the 21st due to the road conditions. Wind chill readings of -50 to -60 were recorded on the 22nd and 23d after the arctic frontal passage.

Winter Storm, Teton Valley

When: December 20, 7:00 PM MST to December 23, 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)

Extremely strong winds gusting 60 to 70 mph at times brought widespread blowing and drifting snow. US Highway 20 closed from Ashton to the Montana State Line. State Highway 33 closed from Newdale to Tetonia and State Highway 32 closed from Tetonia to Ashton. Fremont County School District 215 closed due to road conditions on the 21st. Extreme cold wind chills of -35 to -45 were recorded on the 22nd behind the system.

Blizzard, Bear Lake Valley

When: December 20, 8:00 PM MST to December 22, 8:00 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)

Bern COOP observer reported blizzard conditions throughout the day on the 21st with zero visibility and 4.5 inches of snowfall. Sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph with a peak gust of 69 mph at the site.

Winter Storm, Caribou Range

When: December 20, 8:00 PM MST to December 23, 5:00 AM 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)

Only 1 to 2 inches of snow fell but widespread wind gusts in the 50 to 70 mph range created widespread blowing and drifting snow. US Highway 26 between Ririe and Swan Valley was closed on the 21st into the 22nd as was state Highway 34 between Soda Springs and the Wyoming border. Wind chill readings dropped to 20 and 30 below zero overnight on the 21st into the 22nd.

Winter Storm, Upper Snake River Plain

When: December 20, 10:00 PM MST to December 22, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Upper Snake River Plain forecast zone
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 43.805, -111.767 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

US Highway was closed from Ririe to Swan Valley on the 21st into the 22nd. State Highway 33 was also closed from Newdale to Tetonia. Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph were measured on the 21st. A car rolled on it's side the morning of the 21st near the Rexburg exit on US Highway 20.

High Wind, Southern Hills-Albion Mountains

When: December 21, 12:00 AM MST to December 22, 8:00 AM MST
Where: Southern Hills-Albion Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 42.284, -113.600 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Cotton Ridge RAWS site recorded an 80 mph wind gust at 8:17 AM on the 21st. Gusts between 60 and 70 mph were widespread.

High Wind, Raft River Region

When: December 21, 12:00 AM MST to December 22, 8:00 AM MST
Where: Raft River Region forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 42.391, -112.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Widespread 60 to 70 mph gusts occurred on the 21st with 7 miles north northwest of Idahome measuring 66 mph at 7 AM MST.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lost River Valleys

When: December 21, 2:00 AM MST to December 23, 1:00 AM 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)

Strong northerly winds combined with sub zero temperatures to produce 40 to 50 below wind chills. The Mackay School District closed schools on the 22nd due to the extreme cold conditions.

High Wind, Marsh and Arbon Highlands

When: December 21, 4:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where: Marsh and Arbon Highlands forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 42.838, -112.256 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Widespread wind gusts of 50 to 70 mph on the 21st caused a truck to be tipped over on interstate 15 northbound near milepost 41 at 3:15 PM MST on the 21st.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Beaverhead-Lemhi Highlands

When: December 21, 4:00 PM MST to December 23, 6:00 AM MST
Where: Beaverhead-Lemhi Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.004, -112.761 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An arctic cold frontal passage brought northerly winds 30 to 40 mph which produced wind chill temperatures in the -55 to -65 range during the overnight and early morning on the 21st and 22nd.

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Blizzard: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: Temperatures or wind chills at or below the local warning criteria, or cold that caused deaths.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Idaho in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Idaho, December 2022

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1071762, 1071792, 1071752, 1071849, 1071837, 1071868, 1071870, 1071751, 1071864, 1071799.