Winter Storm — Caribou Range, Idaho

2020-02-05 to 2020-02-06 · Caribou Range, Idaho

Event narrative

Very heavy snowfall occurred and caused very hazardous travel. An accident caused US Highway 26 to close for a period of time from Swan Valley to the Wyoming border. 16 inches of snow fell at the Swan Valley COOP site with the following SNOTEL estimates: Giveout 17 inches, Slug Creek Divide 22 inches, and 15 inches in Somsen Ranch.

Wider weather episode

Another strong Pacific storm system brought hazardous travel weather to eastern Idaho in the first week of February. Heavy snow fell along with an extended period of freezing rain in the Lower Snake River Plain overnight on the 5th into the 6th. Several high elevation sites received over a foot of snow with some school closures on the 6th in the region.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 878063. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.