Winter Storm — Big Lost Highlands-copper Basin, Idaho

2020-01-10 to 2020-01-15 · Big Lost Highlands-copper Basin, Idaho

Event narrative

A multi day powerful winter storm brought extremely heavy snow to the region. Estimated SNOTEL amounts over the period were the following: Bear Canyon 28 inches, Garfield Ranger Station 39 inches, Smiley Mountain 44 inches, Stickney Mill 23 inches, and Swede Peak 29 inches.

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 873730. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.