Idaho, 2022Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Idaho, December 20 to 21, 2022
December 20 to 21, 2022 · NWS MSO · 3 events in 3 counties and zones
A strong upper level jet and Pacific moisture brought multiple hours of heavy snow rates and difficult travel across the Clearwater Mountains. South wind gusts up to 50 mph developed ahead of a cold front in Grangeville and vicinity.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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.
A strong upper level jet and Pacific moisture brought multiple hours of heavy snow rates and difficult travel across the Clearwater Mountains. South wind gusts up to 50 mph developed ahead of a cold front in Grangeville and vicinity. Heavy snow briefly developed in Grangeville and vicinity as the cold front passed.
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 Missoula, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 20, 2:55 AM PST, 7 hours 5 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 20, 2:55 AM PST, 7 hours 5 minutes before
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</html>In the hours before
Local storm report, Dec 20, 7:36 AM PST, 2 hours 24 minutes before
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</html>Local storm report, Dec 20, 8:05 AM PST, 1 hour 55 minutes before
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</html>Local storm report, Dec 20, 8:15 AM PST, 1 hour 45 minutes before
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</html>Local storm report, Dec 20, 9:53 AM PST, 7 minutes before
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</html>Heavy Snow, Northern Clearwater Mountains
- When
- December 20, 10:00 AM PST to 8:00 PM PST
- Where
- Northern Clearwater Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 46.674, -115.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Clearwater County road officials reported 18 inches of snow in Cardiff, with snowfall rates exceeding one inch per hour. Elk River received around 10 inches of snow, with mountain sites, such as Elk Butte Snotel picking up at least 12 inches.
Winter Weather, Southern Clearwater Mountains
- When
- December 20, 2:00 PM PST to December 21, 12:00 AM PST
- Where
- Southern Clearwater Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 45.844, -115.467 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Dixie received 5.8 inches of snow. Snotel sites along US Highway 2 reported 8 to 13 inches.
Winter Weather, Orofino / Grangeville Region
- When
- December 20, 4:00 PM PST to December 21, 2:00 AM PST
- Where
- Orofino / Grangeville Region forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.259, -115.562 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
South wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph led to areas of blowing snow in Grangeville and vicinity. Two hours of heavy snow was observed in Grangeville, with 4 inches of snow being reported. Other sites picked up 1 to 3 inches of accumulation, including Orofino.
- Heavy Snow
- Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
- Winter Weather
- Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Rip Currents in Puerto Rico, December 20 to 23, 20222 deaths · 2 injured · 2 events
- Winter Weather in Oregon, December 20, 20221 death · 1 event
- Rip Current in Florida, December 20, 20221 death · 1 event
- Winter Storm and Extreme Cold in Wyoming, December 20 to 23, 202234 events
- Extreme Cold in South Dakota, December 20 to 24, 202224 events
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Idaho, December 20 to 23, 2022$14,000 · 70 kt wind · 10 events
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Michigan, December 20 to 26, 202215 events
- Winter Storm and Extreme Cold in Montana, December 20 to 22, 202215 events
- Cold in North Dakota, December 20 to 21, 202210 events
- Dense Fog in California, December 20, 20225 events
- Dense Fog in California, December 20 to 21, 20222 events
- Winter Storm in Montana, December 20 to 21, 20221 event
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: 1063152, 1063153, 1063154.