Winter Storm and Avalanche in Idaho, March 22 to 27, 2023

Name: Winter Storm and Avalanche in Idaho, March 22 to 27, 2023
Start: 2023-03-22T20:00
End: 2023-03-27T17:00
Location: Idaho

March 22 to 27, 2023 · NWS PIH · 13 events in 8 counties and zones

A continual influx of Pacific moisture and colder than normal temperatures brought rounds of very heavy snow, strong winds, avalanches, and road closures throughout southeast Idaho in an extended period. Events were difficult to separate and treated as one continual event.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 13 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: 13

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 Mar 22, 12:31 PM MST, 7 hours 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 22, 12:31 PM MST, 7 hours 29 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
131 PM MDT Wed Mar 22 2023

.SHORT TERM...Tonight through Thursday night.
Main impact tonight will be next batch of moisture rotating north
form Utah ahead of upper low pushing east through northern Utah
into Central Wyoming tonight. Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories
are still in effect for extreme eastern and southeastern Idaho
overnight. After sunset roads may again become snow covered mainly
east of interstate 15 but light snow will also fall in non
highlighted areas this evening and could see some snow covered
roads south of Pocatello on the interstate and northeast into the
Island Park area. Generally think 1 to 3 inches in the eastern
mountains will fall with locally higher amounts in the Bear River
Range. The next upper trof and associated cold front will approach
southeastern Idaho Thursday afternoon through Thursday night with
more mountain snow and valley rain and snow. Snow levels will rise
to 5 thousand feet Thursday afternoon then fall to valley floors
again overnight Thursday and remain there through the weekend.
GK

.LONG TERM...Friday through next Wednesday. A cold front and
associated upper trough will swing through early Friday.  Winds look
pretty strong along and behind the front, and may be pushing wind
advisory levels. Backed off a bit on the blowing snow potential as
the temperatures would mostly favor wet snow. EFI is signaling some
heightened potential for snowfall in the Island Park/Ashton areas
and also winds across the Snake Plain.

The main upper low will slowly drop in from the northwest over the
weekend, keeping our weather rather unsettled with isolated
snowshowers and unseasonably cool temperatures. Overnight lows will
dip into the teens Saturday night and Sunday night. Models offer a
slight reprieve early next week as the upper low shifts to the east
and another low drops off the Pacific Coast, inducing ridging over
the PAC NW. Showers return to the forecast again Monday night or
Tuesday, depending on the model. Southwesterly flow should help
usher in some warmer temperatures, but anticipate we'll still remain
below seasonal norms. Hinsberger

&&

.AVIATION...Initial band of snow has quickly dissipated across
southeast Idaho while a second band intensifies over UT/NV in
proximity of the upper-level low. High-res models move the more
intense band across the Bear River Range in SE Idaho, but also re-
develop showers across the Snake Plain. NBM is showing a chance of
MVFR CIG/VIS, potentially IFR VIS briefly. Things quiet down tonight
as the upper low fills and exits to the east, though a few showers
are possible through Thursday morning--particularly at DIJ. Ceilings
at PIH and IDA may remain low VFR through the night. Hinsberger

&&

.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM MDT Thursday for IDZ060.

Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM MDT Thursday for IDZ061-063-
064.

&&

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 22, 2:45 PM MST, 5 hours 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
345 PM MDT WED MAR 22 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0859 AM     SNOW             1 SW ROY                42.36N 112.83W
03/22/2023  M3.0 INCH        POWER              ID   PUBLIC

            3.0 INCHES OF SNOWFALL OVERNIGHT.

&&

MH

Local storm report, Mar 22, 2:48 PM MST, 5 hours 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
348 PM MDT WED MAR 22 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0646 AM     SNOW             4 W INKOM               42.80N 112.32W
03/22/2023  M1.0 INCH        BANNOCK            ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            1.0 INCHES OF SNOWFALL OVERNIGHT.

&&

MH

Local storm report, Mar 22, 2:52 PM MST, 5 hours 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
352 PM MDT WED MAR 22 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1144 AM     SNOW             1 NW MCCAMMON           42.66N 112.21W
03/22/2023  M3.0 INCH        BANNOCK            ID   PUBLIC

            3.0 INCHES OF SNOWFALL OVERNIGHT.

&&

MH

Local storm report, Mar 22, 2:53 PM MST, 5 hours 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
353 PM MDT WED MAR 22 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0125 AM     SNOW             6 ENE COLD WATER        42.65N 113.02W
03/22/2023  M1.0 INCH        POWER              ID   PUBLIC

            1.0 INCHES OF SNOWFALL OVERNIGHT.

&&

MH

Local storm report, Mar 22, 2:57 PM MST, 5 hours 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
357 PM MDT WED MAR 22 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0919 AM     SNOW             2 W CHESTERFIELD        42.86N 111.92W
03/22/2023  E5.0 INCH        CARIBOU            ID   PUBLIC

            5.0 INCHES OF SNOWFALL OVERNIGHT.

&&

MH

Local storm report, Mar 22, 2:59 PM MST, 5 hours 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
359 PM MDT WED MAR 22 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0800 AM     SNOW             PRESTON                 42.10N 111.88W
03/22/2023  E3.5 INCH        FRANKLIN           ID   PUBLIC

            3-4 INCHES OF SNOWFALL OVERNIGHT.

&&

MH

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 heavy snow, 4 winter weather, 3 winter storm, 1 avalanche. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Upper Snake River Plain

When: March 22, 8:00 PM MST to March 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Upper Snake River Plain forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.805, -111.767 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy snow and strong winds brought very hazardous travel to the region. Strong winds caused extensive blowing and drifting snow and US Highway 26 closed on the 25th from Ririe to Swan Valley and Idaho Highway 33 was closed from Newdale to Tetonia. Measured snow amounts were 5 inches at Idaho Falls, 8 inches at Rexburg, 2.5 inches at Rigby, and 5 inches at Sugar City.

Heavy Snow, Blackfoot Mountains

When: March 22, 9:00 PM MST to March 27, 12:00 AM MST
Where: Blackfoot Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.125, -111.858 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Bone COOP observer measured 18 inches of snow over the extended spring snowstorm.

Winter Weather, Blackfoot Mountains

When: March 22, 9:00 PM MST to March 27, 12:00 AM MST
Where: Blackfoot Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.125, -111.858 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Bone COOP observer measured 18 inches of snow over the multi-day spring snow event.

Heavy Snow, Franklin-Eastern Oneida Region

When: March 23, 12:00 AM MST to March 26, 12:00 AM MST
Where: Franklin-Eastern Oneida Region forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.188, -112.176 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy snow fell with an early spring storm. COOP observers measured 10 inches at Preston and 6.5 inches at Downey.

Winter Storm, Teton Valley

When: March 23, 12:00 AM MST to March 26, 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)

Snow and wind continued in endless moisture influx from the Pacific ocean into the first week of spring. The Driggs COOP site observed 10.9 inches of snowfall with the system. North Fremont Schools closed early on the 24th due to snow and wind causing occasional whiteout conditions. Idaho Highway 33 closed from Newdale to Tetonia on the 25th.

Winter Storm, Caribou Range

When: March 23, 8:00 PM MST to March 27, 7:00 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)

Snow and wind caused US Highway 26 to close from Newdale to Tetonia on the 25th. The Swan Valley COOP site measured 8 inches of snow with SNOTEL estimates of 8 inches also at Giveout and Somsen Ranch.

Heavy Snow, Centennial Mountains-Island Park

When: March 24, 11:00 PM MST to March 27, 8:00 AM MST
Where: Centennial Mountains-Island Park forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 44.091, -111.680 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall amounts from the 24th through the 26th were 10.4 inches at the Island Park COOP site, 12 inches at Macks Inn, and the White Elephant SNOTEL had an estimated 14 inches.

Winter Weather, Centennial Mountains-Island Park

When: March 24, 11:00 PM MST to March 27, 8:00 AM MST
Where: Centennial Mountains-Island Park forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 44.091, -111.680 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall amounts during this multi-day event from the 24th through the 26th were 10.4 inches at the Island Park COOP site, 12 inches at Macks Inn, and the White Elephant SNOTEL had an estimated 14 inches.

Heavy Snow, Sawtooth-Stanley Basin

When: March 25, 12:00 AM MST to March 27, 7:00 AM MST
Where: Sawtooth-Stanley Basin forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 43.826, -114.131 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An estimated 16.5 inches of snow fell at the Vienna Mine SNOTEL site.

Winter Weather, Sawtooth-Stanley Basin

When: March 25, 12:00 AM MST to March 27, 7:00 AM MST
Where: Sawtooth-Stanley Basin forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 43.826, -114.131 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An estimated 16.5 inches of snow fell at the Vienna Mine SNOTEL site over this multi-day snow event. Lesser amounts, generally under 8 inches, fell in lower elevations.

Heavy Snow, Southern Hills-Albion Mountains

When: March 25, 6:00 AM MST to March 27, 7:00 AM MST
Where: Southern Hills-Albion Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 42.284, -113.600 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Upwards of 4 feet of snow fell in the Albion Mountains with estimated amounts of 16.4 inches at Bostetter Ranger Station and 42.3 inches at Howell Canyon SNOTEL sites. The heavy snowfall and wind eventually caused an avalanche on the 27th closing Pomerlle Mountain and Howell Canyon Road.

Winter Weather, Southern Hills-Albion Mountains

When: March 25, 6:00 AM MST to March 27, 7:00 AM MST
Where: Southern Hills-Albion Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 42.284, -113.600 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Upwards of 4 feet of snow fell in the high elevations of the Albion Mountains with estimated amounts of 16.4 inches at Bostetter Ranger Station and 42.3 inches at Howell Canyon SNOTEL sites. Lesser events fell at lower elevations over this long duration snow event. The heavy snowfall and wind eventually caused an avalanche on the 27th closing Pomerelle Mountain and Howell Canyon Road.

Avalanche, Southern Hills-Albion Mountains

When: March 27, 12:00 PM MST to 5:00 PM MST
Where: Southern Hills-Albion Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 42.284, -113.600 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three snowboarders and one skier were buried when they triggered an avalanche above the roadway in Howell Canyon. Two were near the surface and were able to dig themselves out and then dig the other two out or the snow. No injuries occurred. the avalanche and mitigation closed Pomerelle ski resort on the 28th.

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
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.
Avalanche: A mass of snow sliding down a mountainside that caused a death, an injury or damage.

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, March 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1091222, 1091244, 1109569, 1091230, 1091241, 1091226, 1091229, 1109571, 1091246, 1109573, 1091257, 1109574, 1091266.