Winter Storm — Bear Lake Valley, Idaho

2020-01-11 to 2020-01-15 · Bear Lake Valley, Idaho

Event narrative

Heavy snow combined with winds to cause hazardous travel in the Bear Lake Valley. The Bern COOP site reported 21.5 inches of snow with the storm including 13 inches on the 13th. Bear Lake School District 33 was closed due to the hazardous travel on the 14th. Montpelier received over a foot of snow on the 13th as well.

Wider weather episode

A major multi day storm affected all of southeast Idaho with very heavy snow, road closures, and school closings widespread. Five day snow totals exceeded a foot in many locations with as much as three feet in some mountain locations. Some high elevation SNOTEL sites exceeded 5 feet. Some of the road closures by the 11th and 12th were US Route 26 from Swan Valley to Ririe, interstate 15 from Dubois to the Montana state line, US Route 20 from Ashton to the Montana state line, Idaho Route 33 from Newdale to Tetonia, and Idaho route 32 from Ashton to Tetonia. Many Idaho school districts closed on the 13th and 14 as well.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 873710. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.