Idaho, 2022

Winter Weather in Idaho, November 1 to 2, 2022

November 1 to 2, 2022 · NWS MSO · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A strong cold front brought heavy wet snow with snow levels down to 3000 feet, and caused roads to be covered with slush.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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 MSO wrote it up.

A strong cold front brought heavy wet snow with snow levels down to 3000 feet, and caused roads to be covered with slush.

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 Nov 1, 1:09 PM PST, 7 hours 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 1, 1:09 PM PST, 7 hours 21 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
309 PM MDT Tue Nov 1 2022

.DISCUSSION...Most of the region is experiencing mild temperatures
ahead of the upcoming weather system, but changes are on the way.
A trough is digging into the Pacific Northwest, which will expand
precipitation into north-central Idaho and western Montana this
evening and overnight. Most of the precipitation is expected to
start as rain, but a cold front passage from the west and from the
north will quickly lower snow levels to most valley floors. Snow
accumulations are expected above 3000 feet in north- central Idaho
tonight with impacts to travel possible. In northwest Montana
colder air from the northeast will lower snow levels to most
valley floors and cause increased northeasterly winds. Convection
allowing models and the HREF ensemble mean all show an area of
heavy snowfall occurring in northwest Montana near or during the
morning commute. There is uncertainty on the location of the
heaviest snow, from as far south as Flathead Lake or further north
near Whitefish to Olney. Higher impacts are expected under
heavier snow, with many inches of snow, slick roadways, low
visibility, and tree limb damage possible. Most places are
expected to have improving conditions near noontime, but radar
projections show snow showers returning for the afternoon and
evening.

A warm front is still on track to move into the region by Friday
morning. Snow levels are forecast to start off low, at valley
floors, so widespread snow accumulations are showing up in north-
central Idaho and in northwest Montana during Friday morning. Snow
levels are forecast to rise during the afternoon, with valley
rain and mountain snow Friday night and early Saturday.

Ensemble guidance shows another cold front on Saturday, with
around a 70 percent probability of wind gusts over 40 mph.

The coldest airmass of the season so far has high agreement among
extended model guidance for early next week, meaning single digit
low temperatures or colder, and high temperatures in the 20s are
becoming more likely.

&&

.AVIATION...
An approaching low pressure system will increase cloud cover
through the evening hours, and especially into the day on
Wednesday. Ahead of a cold front, gusty winds of 20-30 knots are
occurring at KBTM and KSMN, and will continue through the
evening. Low ceilings and reduced visibility are expected after
02/10z, as precipitation spreads across the region. Accumulating
snow is expected at KGPI from 02/10z through around 02/17z. Expect
low visibility and mountain obscurations with rounds of heavy
snowfall. Snow of lesser magnitude is also expected at KMSO, KBTM,
and KSMN through 02/18z. Precipitation is likely to start as rain
in KMSO before transitioning to a mix of rain and snow. Periods
of all snow will be limited at KMSO, with temperatures remaining
near the freezing point.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Weather Advisory from 3 AM to 11 AM MDT Wednesday for
     Kootenai/Cabinet Region.

     Winter Storm Warning from 3 AM to 1 PM MDT Wednesday for West
     Glacier Region.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 4 AM to 11 AM MDT Wednesday for
     Flathead/Mission Valleys.

     Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 11 AM MDT
     Wednesday ABOVE 3500 FEET for the Lower Clark Fork Region.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 3 AM to 11 AM MDT Wednesday for
     Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 5 AM to 11 AM MDT Wednesday for
     Potomac/Seeley Lake Region.

ID...Winter Weather Advisory from 11 PM this evening to 10 AM PDT
     Wednesday ABOVE 3000 FEET for the Southern Clearwater
     Mountains.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 10 AM PDT
     Wednesday ABOVE 3000 FEET for the Lower Hells Canyon/Salmon
     River Region...Orofino/Grangeville Region.

&&

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 weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Lower Hells Canyon / Salmon River Region

When
November 1, 8:30 PM PST to November 2, 2:50 AM PST
Where
Lower Hells Canyon / Salmon River Region forecast zone
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
45.844, -115.467 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Roads were snow-covered on Whitebird Hill, and the grip level revealed potentially slick conditions during this time.

Winter Weather, Southern Clearwater Mountains

When
November 1, 9:00 PM PST to November 2, 9:42 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)

The observer in Dixie reported 3.9 inches of snow while the Lolo Pass SNOTEL recorded a snow depth increase of 3 inches.

Winter Weather, Orofino / Grangeville Region

When
November 1, 9:00 PM PST to November 2, 6:00 AM PST
Where
Orofino / Grangeville Region forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
46.259, -115.562 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The cold front passage brought up to 3.9 inches of snow in the Grangeville area, 3.5 inches in Woodland and 2 inches to Cottonwood.

Winter Weather, Northern Clearwater Mountains

When
November 1, 10:30 PM PST to November 2, 10:30 AM PST
Where
Northern Clearwater Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
46.674, -115.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Pierce observer reported 5.2 inches of snow while the ITD Grangemont webcam on Highway 11 showed snow-covered roads through mid-morning on the 2nd.

What these are

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.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Idaho in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, November 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: 1059686, 1059684, 1059685, 1059683.