Winter Storm in Idaho, April 1 to 2, 2023

Name: Winter Storm in Idaho, April 1 to 2, 2023
Start: 2023-04-01T04:00
End: 2023-04-02T12:00
Location: Idaho

April 1 to 2, 2023 · NWS PIH · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

The latest in an endless series of winter storms continued into April with snow and strong winds causing many roads to close the first two days of April.

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.

The latest in an endless series of winter storms continued into April with snow and strong winds causing many roads to close the first two days of April.

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 Apr 1, 2:11 AM MST, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 1, 2:11 AM MST, 1 hour 49 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, Teton Valley

When: April 1, 4:00 AM MST to April 2, 12:00 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)

Light snow combined with wind gusts of 30 to 60 mph to close US highway 20 from Ashton to the Montana state line, Idaho highway 32 from Tetonia to Ashton, and State Highway 33 from Newdale to Tetonia. Drifting snow was extensive with visibilities lowered to zero. Roads closed between noon and 5 pm MDT on the 1st and re-opened on the 2nd.

Winter Storm, Lost River Valleys

When: April 1, 4:00 AM MST to April 2, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Lost River Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 43.982, -113.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind gusts of 35 to 60 mph combined with light snow caused extensive blowing and drifting snow and reduced visibility to zero at times. US Highway 20/26/93 closed at around 6 pm MDT on the 1st due to the weather conditions.

Winter Storm, Upper Snake River Plain

When: April 1, 4:00 AM MST to April 2, 12:00 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)

Extreme wind gusts in the 35 to 60 mph range combined with light snow to cause State Highway 33 to close from Newdale to Tetonia on the afternoon of the 1st until the 2nd. Blowing and drifting snow caused visibility near zero at times.

Winter Storm, Centennial Mountains-Island Park

When: April 1, 5:00 AM MST to April 2, 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)

Strong winds combined with snowfall to close US Highway 20 from Ashton to the Montana State line and Idaho Highway 87 from Island Park to the Montana state line. Wind gusts of 35 to 60 mph were common throughout the day on April 1st and the highways closed between noon and 5 PM MDT and remained close until the 2nd. Spotter and COOP observers measured in the range of 8 to 10 inches of snowfall in Island Park.

Winter Storm, Arco-Mud Lake Desert

When: April 1, 5:00 AM MST to April 2, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Arco-Mud Lake Desert forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 43.537, -112.374 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong wind gusts in the 35 mph to 60 mph range caused extensive blowing and drifting snow and reduced visibilities. US Highway 20/26/93 to close from Arco to Carey by 6 pm on the 1st.

Winter Storm, Shoshone-Lava Beds

When: April 1, 5:00 AM MST to April 2, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Shoshone-Lava Beds forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 43.089, -113.918 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind gusts of 35 to 60 mph caused extensive blowing and drifting snow and caused US Highway 20/26/93 to close from Carey to Arco. Visibilities were reduced to zero at times. It was closed by 630 pm MDT on the 1st.

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 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history Warnings in Idaho, April 2023

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: 1095141, 1095242, 1095267, 1095118, 1095177, 1095230.