Heavy Snow — Sun Valley Region, Idaho

2021-01-27 to 2021-01-30 · Sun Valley Region, Idaho

Event narrative

An atmospheric river event brought extreme snowfall amounts to the Sun Valley region over several days. 33.5 inches was measured by the COOP in Ketchum. Other amounts estimated at SNOTEL sites were: Chocolate Gulch 31 inches, Dollarhide Summit 42 inches, Galena 17 inches, Galena Summit 43 inches, Hyndman 21 inches, and Lost Wood Divide 29 inches. Bald Mountain at summit of Sun Valley ski resort measured 51 inches of snow. A 67 year old male died while skiing on January 29th in the extremely deep snow from asyphixiation after suffering an accident.

Wider weather episode

A very strong atmospheric river event brought very heavy snow to the southeast Idaho mountains and the Sun Valley region. Amounts of over 2 feet of snow were very common in the drawn out event. 51 inches of snow fell at Bald Mountain at the Sun Valley ski resort and the resort shut down January 29th after several avalanches and the death of a skier.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 937230. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.