Shoshone-lava Beds storm history

Wind gusts of 74 mph 1 mile east northeast of Richfield were measured. Other gusts were: 66 mph at Kinsey Butte, 59 mph in Shoshone, and 60 mph 5 miles south southeast of Kimama. Two large trees were downed or uprooted in Shoshone.

The Shoshone COOP site recorded 10 inches of snow and 8.2 inches was recorded at the Richfield COOP site.

Extreme cold wind chill temperatures affected the Shoshone Lava Beds. The coldest was -25 at Richfield with -24 in Carey.

Heavy snow and low visibility of 1/4 mile or less led to the closing of US Highway 93 south of Shoshone. It also closed State Highway 75 north of Shoshone to Timmerman Hill. Blaine County Schools were closed for the day due to the blizzard.

Ten to 12 inches of snow fell in the Shoshone area with 6 inches in Richfield and 5 inches in Dietrich. Idaho Power reported power outages in Shoshone, Richfield and Dietrich due to the heavy wet snow and strong winds.

Wind gusts of 35 to 60 mph caused extensive blowing and drifting snow and caused US Highway 20/26/93 to close from Carey to Arco. Visibilities were reduced to zero at times. It was closed by 630 pm MDT on the 1st.

A strong Pacific cold front brought strong winds and heavy snow to the region. US Highway was closed from Carey to Arco on the 10th due to the snow and wind. The Richfield COOP site recorded 6 inches of snowfall. Wind gusts of 51 mph were measured at Potter Butte and 11 miles nor…

Heavy snow and wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph closed US Highway 26 from Carey to Arco. The Richfield COOP observer measured 8 inches of snowfall with the system.

Snow and wind gusts in the 40 to 60 mph range caused blowing and drifting snow which closed US Highway 26 on the 21st from Carey to Arco.

A brush fire began August 16th 5 miles northwest of Carey and grew to 650 acres. Farms and homes were threatened but no damages were reported. The wildfire was actively controlled on August 19th.

A strong cold front brought significant winds with 60 mph measured 5 miles north of Owinza and 59 mph in Richfield.

Wind gusts behind a strong cold frontal passage measured 50 to 60 mph with the highest 59 mph 1 mile east northeast of Richfield and 55 mph at Kinsey Butte.

The COOP observer at Richfield recorded 6 inches of snow on the 30st and 31st.

An extended period of Pacific moisture pushing into Idaho caused snow and periods of strong winds over and extended period covering the Christmas holiday. The Richfield COOP observer reported 11 inches of snow with US Highway 93 closed from Carey to Arco on the 26th.

Ten inches of snow was reported 6 miles north of Shoshone and 8 inches fell at the Richfield COOP site.

A strong cold front brought sustained winds of 40 mph out of the northeast with a peak gust of 62 mph 13 miles south of Craters of the Moon. 50 to 60 mph gusts were reported in Richfield. Tree limbs and power lines were reported down in Shoshone by 7:30 PM MDT.

A strong Pacific storm persisted for several days and the Richfield COOP observer recorded 12 inches of snow including 8 inches on the 13th and 14th.

A lightning strike caused the 4,889 acre Spud Fire approximately 12 miles southwest of Carey. It burned grass and brush and threatened no structures. It began around 5:30 PM MDT on August 1st and was controlled on August 5th.

The 1,300 acre fire 3 miles northeast of Shoshone began by lightning on July 22nd and burned grass and brush was controlled by July 25th. No structures were threatened. Highway 75 was shut down for a very short time on July 23rd.

Snow and blowing snow in the northern part of the zone caused US Highway 20 to close from Carey east through Arco for several days during the extended winter storm.

US highway 20 was closed for several days from the 13th through the 15th due to snow and strong winds from Carey through Arco. The Richfield COOP observer recorded 10 inches of snow.

Snow ans strong winds led to the closure of US Highway 20 from Carey to Arco on the 10th and 11th.

Snow and wind caused schools to shut down early in Minidoka County on December 12th at 1:30 PM MST.

A lightning induced wildfire began July 16th 5 miles southeast of Carey and burned over 4,000 acres of grass and brush before it was contained. No property damage occurred.