Winter Storm — Caribou Range, Idaho

2022-12-20 to 2022-12-23 · Caribou Range, Idaho

Event narrative

Only 1 to 2 inches of snow fell but widespread wind gusts in the 50 to 70 mph range created widespread blowing and drifting snow. US Highway 26 between Ririe and Swan Valley was closed on the 21st into the 22nd as was state Highway 34 between Soda Springs and the Wyoming border. Wind chill readings dropped to 20 and 30 below zero overnight on the 21st into the 22nd.

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 1071849. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.