Winter Storm — Lower Snake River Plain, Idaho

2024-03-01 to 2024-03-04 · Lower Snake River Plain, Idaho

Event narrative

A very powerful storm brought a combination of heavy wet snow and strong winds to cause extensive damage the first 4 days of March. Snow amounts ranged from 10 to 18 inches with the majority falling on the 1st and 2nd. A cold front early on the 2nd brought 40 to 60 mph wind gusts and combined with the heavy snow to cause extensive tree damage with many trees downed. Power outages reported by Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power numbered over 50 thousand customers from Firth to Blackfoot to American Falls to Pocatello. Several reports of downed power lines in Blackfoot, and Pocatello. Fifteen power poles snapped off along US Highway 91 between Blackfoot and Fort Hall. Several accidents on interstate 15 on the 2nd and interstate 86 as well along the interstate 15 south bound ramp with several vehicles damaged. Snow and wind continued on the 3rd and 4th as temperatures were much colder and blowing and drifting snow across roadways were a bigger problem. Due to snow and wind the following schools closed on the 4th: Snake River District 52, Blackfoot District 55, Firth District 59, Aberdeen District 58, Pocatello/Chubbuck District 25, American Falls District 381, and Idaho State University. The two day precipitation total of 2.01 inches on the 1st and 2nd at the Pocatello Airport was a two day record for the city. 11.6 inches of snow was measured as well the 1st through the 3rd. 11 inches fell in downtown Pocatello with up to 14 to 16 inches on the benches. American Falls COOP reported 11.8 inches and Blackfoot reported 10 inches.

Wider weather episode

An extreme winter storm affected all of southeast Idaho the first 4 days of the month. Extreme amounts of Pacific moisture combined with several short waves and a cold frontal passage brought widespread snow amounts over a foot. With temperatures near freezing, widespread damage occurred due to the heavy wet nature of the snow especially in the Snake River Plain. Although there was a break in the snow late on the 2nd, it returned on the 3rd and continued into the 4th. Strong winds were also a common feature with the multi day storm with widespread gusts over 40 mph causing blowing and drifting snow and low visibility by the 3rd and 4th when colder temperatures arrived. Road closures were widespread. Thunderstorms occurred with the cold frontal passage early on the 2nd. School closures also occurred on the 4th as well.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1169885. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.