Winter Storm — Beaverhead-lemhi Highlands, Idaho

2019-02-23 to 2019-02-28 · Beaverhead-lemhi Highlands, Idaho

Event narrative

Interstate 15 was closed from Dubois to the Montana state line on the 25th through the 26th. Not many reports of snow amounts were received. The Dubois COOP observer reported 2.5 inches but amounts were much heavier northbound on interstate 15.

Wider weather episode

An extended atmospheric river event occurred for an entire week. Extremely heavy snow fell in the mountains with amounts at SNOTEL sites reaching as high as 5 to 8 feet for the week. Many roads closed through the mountains. Schools closed and some sheet flooding began mainly in Bingham and Minidoka counties where temperatures warmed significantly. Avalanches also occurred in the central mountains with the heavy snowfall accompanied with warmer temperatures. The storm wrapped up a month of record snowfall in the Upper Snake Highlands where the Island Park COOP observer recorded over 100 inches for the month.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 810597. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.