Blizzard — Bear Lake Valley, Idaho

2022-12-20 to 2022-12-22 · Bear Lake Valley, Idaho

Event narrative

Bern COOP observer reported blizzard conditions throughout the day on the 21st with zero visibility and 4.5 inches of snowfall. Sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph with a peak gust of 69 mph at the site.

Wider weather episode

An extremely strong Pacific cold front brought wind gusts in the 50 to 80 mph range with localized blizzard conditions in the mountains and then extremely cold wind chills followed behind an arctic cold frontal passage. Snow amounts in the mountains were generally light and mainly in the 1 to 5 inch range but the combination with the wind brought many road closures to extreme eastern Idaho on the 21st into the 22nd. Some school closures occurred on the 21st and 22nd.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1071752. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.