Winter Storm — Central Panhandle Mountains, Idaho

2021-12-11 to 2021-12-12 · Central Panhandle Mountains, Idaho

Event narrative

A winter storm passing through the northern Idaho Panhandle brought heavy snow and gusty winds on December 11th. Local ski resorts reported total snow accumulations up to 5 to 7 inches. The strong winds, with gusts up to 30 mph, led to blowing snow and poor travel conditions. The Idaho State Police reported numerous crashes, slide-offs, and spun-out semis on Interstate 90, mostly at Lookout Pass, that blocked lanes of traffic.

Wider weather episode

A strong winter storm system brought snow and windy conditions to northern Idaho late December 10th through December 11th. Travel became very difficult over mountain passes and roadways due to the blowing snow from the accompanying strong, gusty winds.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 995886. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.