Northern Clearwater Mountains storm history

The Dent RAWS, located at 1,700 feet, reported wind gusts up to 55 mph between 0508PST and 0608PST, and 57 mph between 0608PST and 0708PST. Fallen trees completely blocked roads and access points throughout the county. Widespread tree damage was noted across central and eastern C…

The period of highest impact occurred between 0900PST and 1515PST on December 4, when snowfall rates near 1 inch per hour frequently reduced visibility to less than one mile. The Grangemont area received an estimated 8 inches of new snowfall during that period. The snow changed t…

Snowfall totals ranged from 3.8 inches in Pierce to 4 to 6 inches in the mountains. Road temperatures were above freezing before snow began which could have brought localized slick spots.

Snotel measured 7 inches of snowfall at Crater Meadows, 5 inches at Hemlock Butte, and 3 inches at Elk Butte.

Heavy snow fell at times across Clearwater County. Total snowfall amounts were consistent between 13 and 15 inches near Pierce and close to 2 feet of snow fell in the mountains.

The Pierce COOP reported 8.7 inches of snowfall, while the Shanghai Summit SNOTEL recorded 12 inches of snow.

Heavy snow, ranging between 8 and 16 inches in total, fell in the mountains and around 3,000 feet elevation near and west of Pierce. The Grangemont sensor reported rain with a surface temperature of 29 degrees from 2100 to 0600 February 1, which infers that freezing rain fell.

Heavy snow, ranging between 8 and 16 inches in total, fell in the mountains and around 3000 feet near and west of Pierce. The Grangemont sensor reported rain with a surface temperature of 29 degrees from 2100 to 0600 February 1, which infers that freezing rain fell.

Elk Butte SNOTEL received an estimated 8 inches of snow and 1.20 inches snow water equivalent. Crater Meadows SNOTEL, located in the Clearwater Mountains in eastern Clearwater County at 5960 feet, received 7 inches of snow and recorded 1.10 inches of snow water equivalent.

Widespread freezing temperatures occurred with readings from the upper 20s to lower 30s observed. Damage occurred to unprotected sensitive vegetation.

During the heatwave, the hottest temperatures reported were 101 degrees in Pierce on the 21st, and 106 degrees at the Dent RAWS along Dworshak Reservoir on the 21st.

The Dworshak Reservoir saw 6 days of highs in the 100s with lows in the low to mid 60s. The hottest day was the 9th when the high reached 106 degrees at Dworshak and the unofficial reading at the Dent RAWS reached 105 degrees.

Generally 0.5 to 1.0 inch of snow water equivalent fell, estimated at 4 to 8 inches of snow. Backcountry travel was difficult.

Heavy wet snow occurred with 10 inches reported in Headquarters and Pierce. A report of 11 inches was received from Elk River. Roads were snow covered across the area.

Moderate to heavy snow occurred, causing widespread snow-covered roads. Difficult travel conditions were reported by the Idaho Transportation Department on Highway 12 near and over Lolo Pass. Elk River picked up over 15 inches of snow accumulation.

Clearwater County road officials reported 18 inches of snow in Cardiff, with snowfall rates exceeding one inch per hour. Elk River received around 10 inches of snow, with mountain sites, such as Elk Butte Snotel picking up at least 12 inches.

Pierce received 4.4 inches of snow while the mountains received 5 to 7 inches.

Very heavy snow rates were observed by SNOTEL stations and the webcam at Grangemont corroborated this. The Hemlock Butte SNOTEL picked up close to 10 inches of snow in 9 hours.

Moderate to heavy snow fell across the region with amounts ranging from 5 to 8 inches.

Pierce received 3.5 inches of snow while the mountains received 4 to 6 inches.

The Grangemont ITD webcam showed heavy snow and snow-covered conditions. Total snow amounts during the event include: 7 inches in 5 hours at the Shanghi Summit and 2.5 inches at Pierce.

Generally 3 to 6 inches of snow fell across the central and eastern parts of Clearwater County.

The Shanghi Summit SNOTEL received 5 inches of snow and it also reported heavy snow rates during the event. Other snow amounts ranged from 2 to 4 inches. The Grangemont webcam revealed snow-covered roads during the morning commute.

SNOTEL stations reported between 2 and 4 inches of snow water equivalent which was mostly in the form of 1 to 2 feet of snow in the mountains. Pierce reported 6.2 inches of snow. Strong gusty winds near 40 mph occurred during and after the heavy snowfall.

The Pierce observer reported 5.2 inches of snow while the ITD Grangemont webcam on Highway 11 showed snow-covered roads through mid-morning on the 2nd.

Snowfall rates up to 1 inch per hour fell during the morning hours, but limited travel impacts were noted. Pierce received 7.4 inches of snow.

Heavy snowfall totals amounted to around 2 feet in the area which resulted in poor driving conditions and a few power outages. Pierce received a 3 day snowfall total of 20.6 inches through the 7th, which was the 7th highest snowfall during any time of the year since 1963.

Heavy snow, with rates in excess of one inch per hour, was observed in Elk River, Grangemont, Headquarters, and in higher elevations areas of the northern Clearwater Mountains. One to two feet of snow was measured by area SNOTEL sites, with nine inches of snow being reported in E…

Overnight lows only dropped into the 60s after daytime highs reached 100 to 110 degrees at the lower elevations.

The highest observed wind gust of 43 mph was measured at the Dent RAWS along the northern shore of the Dworshak Reservoir. A power outage north of Weippe resulted in approximately 27 customers losing power.

Multiples periods of snow added up to 12-24 inches. Specific totals included 14 inches in Pierce and an estimated 24 inches at Elk River. Most of the impactful snow occurred above 3000 feet leading to difficult travel for much of the region.

Heavy wet snow fell generally above 3000 feet with rates over 1 inch per hour at times. General snow totals of 10 to 14 inches were common with 10 inches in Elk River, 11 inches at Cardiff, and 12 inches at Pierce. Periods of difficult travel were observed.

Heavy snow impacted the northern Clearwater Mountains during the evening hours of December 30 and during the morning hours of December 31. Pierce reported 9 inches of snow. Furthermore, a foot of more of snowfall was observed in higher elevations in areas off and away from Idaho …

Early season heavy snow fell in the mountains causing dangerous conditions for hunters and other recreationists. Total snowfall in inches included: 15 Crater Meadows SNOTEL at 5,960 ft., 12 Shanghai Summit at 4,570 ft., and 3.4 Pierce.

Snowfall amounts of 1 to 2 feet were common on the higher benches with 2 to 3 feet at Cardiff Spur and Pierce. Periods of hazardous travel occurred.

A SNOTEL station at Crater Meadows reported 17 of snow. Mountain passes like Lolo and Lookout, received approximately 4 of snow, but due to warm ground conditions, accumulations melted rapidly. Lost Trail Pass measured around 7 of snow. One car was reported abandoned by Clearwate…

General snow amounts of 4 to 8 inches fell above 4000 feet with some locations above 6000 feet, experiencing over 12 inches of snow. Difficult travel was experienced by the backcountry users.

Snowfall of 4 to 8 inches was common, while up to 12 inches was reported at Cardiff Spur. This snowfall led to difficult travel at times along with school closures.

A period of heavy snowfall led to 12 inches of snow in Pierce and generally 7 to 14 inches elsewhere. Areas of blowing snow were also an issue on Highway 11 near Greer Grade.

A period of heavy snow lead to difficult travel during the morning hours. Snowfall of 4 to 8 inches were commonly observed by the public.

Pierce set a record high of 101 on August 9th and an all-time record high of 105 on August 10th. The two day mean maximum temperature of 103 at Pierce was the hottest on record with observations going back to 1963. Elk River reached a high of 98 on the 9th and then set a record h…

Snowfall amounts of 12 to 20 inches were common from the weekend storm with reports of over 2 feet at Elk River.

About 3 feet of snow was reported at Elk River with power outages in the area. For the lower elevations, freezing rain was reported. Also there was minor flooding due to blocked culverts in portions of western Clearwater County.

A COOP observer in Pierce reported 4.2 inches of snow which caused power outages and knocked down many cottonwood trees. Shanghai summit snotel just north of Pierce 11 inches of snow with 1.8 inches of Snow Water Equivalent.

A spotter reported 5 inches of new snow at the highest elevations along Grangemont Road in Clearwater County, ID. Two cars had to be pulled from ditches during this spotter's commute.

The Pierce COOP reported 4.2 inches of total snow while over a foot of snow fell in the mountains.

Moderate to heavy snow caused power issues that affected school communications in Clearwater County resulting in school closures on December 15 and 16. Snowfall amounts generally ranged from 5 to 10 during the event.

Moderate to heavy snow fell across portions of Clearwater County above 3000 feet during the event. Total snowfall amounts ranged from 3.4 inches in Pierce to 17 inches at the Shanghai Summit SNOTEL at 4500 feet. The temperatures plummeted from the 20's and 30's to the teens by Mo…

A person from a gas station in Pierce remarked that it snowed so much that they had to constantly shovel at their house. They received an estimated 10 inches in the overnight period. The Crater Meadows SNOTEL at 5960 ft. reported 15 inches of snow during this period while 8 inche…

A spotter located in Weippe reported 5.5 inches of heavy snow and web cams at Greer Grade on Highway 11 revealed very low visibility and intense snow.