Southern Clearwater Mountains County, Idaho
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1996 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
0
Tornado reports
0
Hail reports
1
Floods since 1996
248
All events
1
Deaths
$127K
Property damage
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
A 41 year old man heading west on U.S. Highway 12, lost control as he crossed an icy bridge deck over Lolo Creek near mile-marker 7 and shortly died thereafter. Another vehicle heading eastbound had to swerve into a ditch attempting to avoid a collision but still was side-swiped …
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A social media report from Dixie, Idaho indicated winter weather conditions. To the south of Grangeville, the snow level fell to fifty three hundred feet.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
At Red River Hot Springs, 4 to 7 inches of snow fell coating the roads with snow. Snow fell again on Sunday morning, May 17, with the Mountain Meadows SNOTEL (6360 feet) recording 0.70 inches of Snow Water Equivalent, equating to 4 to 6 inches of snowfall. Sub-freezing mornings f…
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
In Elk City, temperatures fell to 24 degrees Fahrenheit on April 25 and 22 degrees Fahrenheit on April 27. Another nearby station recorded a low of 24 degrees Fahrenheit on April 26 and 22 degrees Fahrenheit on April 27, recording a hard freeze for several hours.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Fifteen inches of snow fell at the Mountain Meadows SNOTEL. Six inches of snow accumulated at Lolo Pass, and 3.6 inches fell at Dixie. Downed trees were reported on the way to Red River Hot Springs due to the heavy weight of the snow.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow started around 0400MST on April 2nd at Lolo Pass, lasting through about 0200MST on April 3rd. Approximately seven inches of total snow fell, and air temperatures dropped as low as twenty-eight degrees. Peak snowfall intensities occurred midday on April 2nd, with two inches a…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Montana Department of Transportation (on the east side of Highway 12) reported severe driving conditions. Lolo Pass Visitor Center reported 59 inches of storm total snow. Rock slides occurred between Grangeville and Elk City. A power outage event was reported in Elk City.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Wet snow caused power outages for approximately 900 customers near Fenn and southwest of Elk City. SNOTEL measurements at Lolo Pass recorded 1.3 inches of moisture, resulting in 13 inches of new snow. These conditions led to chain requirements at Lolo Pass for a period during the…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A light wintry mix resulted in road conditions described as slick as can be on Highway 14 in Elk City. Light rain fell while temperatures remained near freezing for several locations, including Elk City and near Syringa.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
While 4 to 6 inches of snow fell at both Lolo Pass and Dixie, the higher elevations of the Bitterroot Mountains received over a foot of snowfall.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The Idaho side of the Bitterroot crest absorbed heavy moisture from the atmospheric river, leading to high-impact winter conditions right along the Lolo Pass border. Further down the Highway 12 corridor at Powell, intense snowfall rates dropped 5 inches of snow in just a 6-hour p…
High Wind High Wind
A falling tree struck a semi-truck at milepost 96 on US-12, just one mile west of Lowell. In an accident near Elk City, a truck was struck by mud and trees sliding down a hillside, while a motorist on SH-13 had a tree fall through their vehicle windshield. Blockages including mul…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Between 6 and 7 inches of snow fell between Elk City and Dixie, while the mountains, including both Lolo Pass and Red River Hot Springs, saw much heavier totals of 1 to 2 feet. Precipitation changed to freezing rain at Elk City during the evening of December 5, but air temperatur…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals were variable across the mountains, ranging from 3 inches at Lolo Pass to 12 inches at Mountain Meadows.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snotel reported 3 inches of snowfall at Lolo Pass, 3 inches at Mountain Meadows, and 6 inches at Savage Pass.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Low temperatures dropped to 30-33 degrees at Elk City and Powell for the first time in the fall season leading to significant frost and damage to area gardens. Frosty mornings continued through the rest of the week.
Avalanche Avalanche
An avalanche blocked the eastbound lane of Highway 12 near Elk Summit Road and Powell Junction. The avalanche was estimated to be 8 feet tall and 30 feet long.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Very heavy wet snow fell at times and brought slick conditions to U.S. Highway 12. Power outages were reported the morning of the 18th due to the heavy snow rates from snow bands. Snowfall ranges include: 9 inches in Syringa, 2 feet at Lolo Pass, a foot at Dixie and 3 feet fell n…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Idaho County Sheriff's Office declared emergency travel only for U.S. Highways 95 and 12 due to winter driving conditions on February 4 at 1805PST. They reported 'several accidents' and stated that visibility was limited due to snow. The power company reported 692 customers witho…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Lolo Pass received 14 inches of heavy snow during the event. Freezing rain caused slick surfaces in the lower elevations.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Lolo Pass received 14 inches of heavy snow during the event. Freezing rain caused slick surfaces in the lower elevations.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Between 6 and 12 inches of snow fell in the mountains, including at Lolo pass. The COOP in Dixie reported a total snowfall of 6.6 inches.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Lolo Pass SNOTEL recorded 7 inches of snow and 0.60 inches of snow water equivalent. Savage Pass SNOTEL recorded 5 inches of snow.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Widespread freezing temperatures occurred with readings from the upper 20s to lower 30s observed. Typical cold spots dropped into the upper teens. Damage occurred to unprotected sensitive vegetation.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Lowell saw its highest reading of 105 degrees on the 18th. Other readings include 101 in Powell, 107 at the Moose Creek RAWS and 99 degrees in Elk City.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
The Fenn RAWS hit 100 or higher five times during this heatwave. The highest readings occurred on the 9th when Fenn was 105 degrees, and on the 10th when the Moose Creek RAWS hit 107 degrees.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
From 0.6 to 1.1 inch of snow water equivalent fell, estimated at 5 to 9 inches of snow. Backcountry travel was difficult.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Difficult travel conditions were reported on Highway 12 at Lolo Pass by the Idaho Transportation Department. Chains were required over the pass for a period of time. Lolo Pass picked up around 17 inches of total snow accumulation.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The Savage Pass SNOTEL picked up 8 inches of snow while Lolo Pass received 9 inches. Mountain Meadows which is located south of Red River Hot Springs picked up 3 inches of snow. Temperatures fell into the 20s from Lolo Pass to Powell on US-12 which could have produced black ice o…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Isolated extreme cold occurred with a low of -31F in Dixie and a low of -33F at Elk City.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Dixie received 5.8 inches of snow. Snotel sites along US Highway 2 reported 8 to 13 inches.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
The ITD snow depth sensor at Powell on US-12 reported very heavy snow, 4.4 inches in 3 hours, during the morning hours associated with the passage of the cold front. Other snow amounts include around 7 inches Lolo Pass and Mountain Meadows. The Elk City sensor reported heavy snow…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The Lolo Pass sensor recorded 0.80 inches of snow water equivalent which could equate to 8 to 10 inches of snow with temps in the upper 20s. Dixie only received 1.1 inches and Mountain Meadows SNOTEL received 2 inches of snow depth increase.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The Dixie observer reported 3.8 inches of snow and webcams revealed periods of light to moderate snowfall down to the valley locations.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
The Lolo Pass SNOTEL recorded heavy snow with 3 inches falling from 1400 to 1500PST. Other snow amounts include: 5.6 inches at Dixie and 8 inches at the Twin Lakes SNOTEL.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Between 6 and 12 inches of heavy snow fell across the mountains of Idaho County, especially towards the Montana border. The Dixie COOP reported 9.6 inches and the Mountain Meadows SNOTEL reported close to a foot of snow. Hunters and recreationists were likely negatively impacted …
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Between 4 and 6 inches of snow fell in the higher terrain of the Bitterroot and Clearwater Mountains. The snow rates were moderate to heavy at times and brought slick conditions at Lolo Pass.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
The Idaho County Sheriff reported numerous slide-offs and accidents because of the snow-covered roads. Webcams showed heavy wet snow in the lower elevations weighing the trees down and subsequently a power outage occurred thereafter in the Pete King area. SNOTEL stations reported…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The observer in Dixie reported 3.9 inches of snow while the Lolo Pass SNOTEL recorded a snow depth increase of 3 inches.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow amounts of 5-10 inches were observed above 5000 feet, impacting backcountry users. Highway 12 was also slick and snow covered at Lolo Pass multiple times.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Heavy snow was observed across the southern Clearwater Mountains, with 9.4 inches of snow being reported in Dixie.
Avalanche Avalanche
A large avalanche, more than 10 feet deep and up to 40 feet wide was triggered by heavy snow near milepost 136 on US-12. This along with treefall caused the highway to be closed for 3 days. The last time an avalanche crossed US-12 was in 2008. The date and time of the avalanche i…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
More than 2 feet of heavy snow fell across the region with the Idaho Department of Transportation stating that the snow rates were up to 3 inches per hour at times. US-12 between Kooskia and Powell was closed from 2 pm PST Jan. 6 through 4 pm Jan. 9 due to avalanche and treefall …
Heat Heat
High temperatures ranged from the upper 90s to 107 degrees at lower elevations with overnight lows in the 60s.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
More than 600 customers were affected by power outages in an area from Grangeville to Elk City to Dixie, ID. In the mountains, there were multiple measured gusts in the 40s mph, while Hells Half RAWS (elevation of 8100 feet) measured the highest gust of 57 mph.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
General snow totals of 6-18 inches occurred with the heaviest totals at Lolo Pass with 21 inches. Chains were also required for towing units over Lolo Pass with snow covered roads all the way to Lowell.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A combination of heavy snow and falling trees (around 30-40 trees) caused power outages and blocked roads throughout the zone. The area from Lowell to just west of Bald Mountain on US Highway 12 received 18 inches of heavy snow, which was very significant for these lower elevatio…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Heavy snow fell above 3000 feet with rates over 1 inch per hour at times. Snow totals of 10 to 18 inches were common with 15 inches in Elk City and 18 inches at Red River Hot Springs. Periods of difficult travel were observed.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Periods of moderate to heavy snowfall impacted the southern Clearwater Mountains. Total snowfall amounts included 7 inches in Lowell and 4 inches at Lolo Pass.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Fifteen inches of heavy snow was reported at Lolo Pass during the event. Other snow amounts include 7.5 inches at Selway Lodge and 3.1 inches in Dixie.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 0 |
| 2025 | 13 | 0 |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 |
| 2022 | 13 | 0 |
| 2021 | 5 | 0 |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 | 10 | 0 |
| 2013 | 9 | 0 |
| 2012 | 3 | 0 |
| 2011 | 12 | 0 |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 |
| 2009 | 11 | 0 |
| 2008 | 17 | 0 |
| 2007 | 12 | 0 |
| 2006 | 16 | 0 |
| 2005 | 6 | 0 |
| 2004 | 8 | 0 |
| 2003 | 16 | 0 |
| 2002 | 12 | 0 |
| 2001 | 9 | 0 |
| 2000 | 7 | 0 |
| 1999 | 10 | 0 |
| 1998 | 5 | 0 |
| 1997 | 4 | 0 |
| 1996 | 4 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Southern Clearwater Mountains County, measured to its path.
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