A strong winter storm sequence, initially targeting the central ID mountains and Upper Snake Highlands with heavy snow. Strong wind gusts and accumulating snow then moved into eastern Idaho where the southeast highlands saw accumulating snow with slippery road conditions.
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.
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.
The episode as NWS PIH wrote it up.
A strong winter storm sequence, initially targeting the central ID mountains and Upper Snake Highlands with heavy snow. Strong wind gusts and accumulating snow then moved into eastern Idaho where the southeast highlands saw accumulating snow with slippery road conditions.
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 14, 2:24 PM MST, 9 hours 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pocatello ID 324 PM MDT Fri Mar 14 2025 .SHORT TERM...Today and Saturday. Yesterday's upper level trough has moved east of the area setting up zonal flow across the area ahead of the next upper level trough. This next upper level trough is currently off the Oregon/Washington coast. Portions of this trough will move across our area late tonight into Saturday. The main push of moisture with this upper level trough will impact our area mainly Sunday morning and continue into Monday. See long-term discussion for the impacts Sunday onward. With heating today there are weak isolated snow showers across the area. Little, if any, snow accumulation is expected today. On Saturday, moisture ahead of this next system will move into the area. Expect light to moderate snow showers on Saturday, especially for upslope areas across the Central mountains and the Eastern Highlands where 1 to 4 inches of snow is likely above mainly 4500 feet. Elevations above 6000 feet across the Wasatch, Big Hole, and Island park areas could see up to 6 to 8 inches of upslope snow. Snow will drop to valley bottoms with stronger convective bands on Saturday. Winds will start to pick up Saturday with wind gusts up to 35 to 45 mph likely, especially for ridgetops, the Shoshone area, Eastern Magic Valley and the Snake river plain. Wyatt .LONG TERM...Sun through next Fri evening. This period starts in the middle of the next significant storm for the forecast area. Rain and snow should reach a peak in the central Idaho mountains Sun afternoon and evening. The main impact area will be the Sawtooth and upper Wood River basins, and the Island Park area where Winter Storm Watches are in effect. Farther south, the higher the snow levels and the less precipitation. Snow continues in a limited way for Mon night and Tue, with finally a dry Wed/Wed night and just light snow for Thu/Thu night. Temperatures for Sun have trended colder compared to yesterday's thinking--but still some lower 50s readings in the southwest corner of the forecast area. This should help bring more snow than previous thinking, but still for some areas storm total amounts are staying below Advisory-level. Wind stays at windy and higher levels until Mon morning, with the exception of some localized very windy conditions in the south central hills south of Burley. By Wed, wind is light nearly everywhere except moderate on ridges. Messick && .AVIATION...CIGs have been slow to clear after some morning stratus and some snow around KDIJ, but this afternoon has seen strong improvement that should last into the evening hours. However, late night hours indicate a return of stratus with some snow showers around for tonight. The risk of snow showers is less than 20 percent for KSUN, KIDA, KPIH, and KBYI, while KDIJ only goes to 20 to 25 percent risk after 15/11Z tonight. So have left that at VCSH mention. The wind remains elevated at the valley airdromes and KDIJ and thus do not see issues with BR/FG and VSBY. KSUN should see downslope wind preventing stratus and BR/FG. Messick && .HYDROLOGY...Temperatures have dropped off significantly today. Thus, snowmelt south of Rexburg has dropped off. The Flood advisory south of Rexburg has been cancelled. A warm and moist atmospheric river event will move through the area mainly Sunday and Monday. Most of the plume of moisture will hit our northern areas across the Central Mountains and the Island Park area. That said, southern areas (like the Malad area south to the Utah line) that have had recent snow will see most of that snow melt off during this event. Additionally there will be rain (0.25 to 0.50 inch) on snow. Plus, areas across the Arco desert, the Upper Snake Plain, the Shoshone area, and possibly the Wood River range (especially southern areas) will have snowmelt due to warmer temperatures and rain on snow. Wyatt && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Watch from Sunday morning through Monday afternoon for IDZ066. Winter Storm Watch from late Saturday night through late Sunday night for IDZ071>074. &&
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 winter storm, 4 winter weather, 4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A long period of snowfall brought 10 to 18 inches of snow to the Stanley Basin. 34.4 inches was reported by the Vienna SNOTEL site.
A long period of snowfall brought 8 to 18 inches of snow through the Wood River Valley and surrounding mountains. The Dollarhide SNOTEL site reported a storm total of 19.8 inches, while Galena Summit reported 24.9 inches for the event. Additionally, wind gusts in excess of 50 mph were reported with Galena reporting 51 mph on the evening of the 16th.
A long period of snowfall at least 8 to 12 inches of snow to the lower elevations of the Frank Church Wilderness and Salmon River area. The Mill Creek Summit SNOTEL measured 27 inches of snow for the event total.
A long period of snowfall brought at least 8 to 18 inches of snow to the Big Lost Highlands and Copper Basin. The Garfield Ranger Station measured 12.3 inches of snow, while the Smiley Mountain SNOTEL measured 34.4 inches for the event total.
A long period of snowfall brought 6 to 12 inches of snow through Island Park and Ashton Hill, with 12 to 24 inches north of Island Park towards Targhee Pass and West Yellowstone. Island Park measured 15.3 inches of snow, while the White Elephant SNOTEL measured nearly 45 inches of snow during the long duration event. Additionally, wind gusts occasionally reached 50-55 mph with a measured gust of 51 mph reported at the Henry's Lake ITD mesonet site. The combination of heavy snow and strong wind gusts led to the closure of Highway 20 from Ashton to the Montana border beginning the afternoon of the 16th.
Slippery road conditions around Pocatello led to multiple slide offs and accidents around Pocatello. Additionally, wind gusts in the area were widespread 45-50 mph with the Pocatello Airport reporting a measured gust of 45 mph.
Several 60+ mph wind gusts recorded with a peak of 86 mph gust recorded 13 miles west-northwest of Monteview in Clark County.
Several 60+ mph wind gusts recorded across the Southern Hills and Albion Mountains with a peak of 75 mph gust recorded 17 miles west-southwest of Marion in Cassia County.
A wind gust of 75 mph was measured 6 miles east-northeast of Palisades at the Mount Baird mesonet site.
A measured wind gust of 60 mph at the base of Howe Peak.
Accumulating snow measured 2 to 8 inches with a 6.9 inch report from a CoCoRaHS observer north of Inkom and a 2.5 inch report measured at a COOP site in Downey.
A measured report from a CoCoRaHS observer in Soda Springs of 7 inches.
A trained spotter reported 7 inches of new snow overnight with the strong winds. A measured wind gust of 61 mph occurred with the passage of a strong cold front at the Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport in the early hours of the 17th.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Idaho in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, March 2025
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: 1265200, 1265206, 1265207, 1265210, 1265211, 1265213, 1265216, 1265217, 1265219, 1265230, 1265241, 1265242, 1265248.