A long duration heavy snow event in the Idaho Panhandle began on the 21st of February and came to an end on the 24th.  A very cold upper-level storm system settled into the Pacific Northwest during the 21st and 22nd of February.  Numerous disturbances that moved across the region produced several rounds of heavy snow across the Idaho Panhandle.  Most locations experienced 36 to 56 hours of snowfall over the four day period with valley locations receiving between one and two feet of snow while the mountains received upwards of two to five feet.  A strong arctic front moved through the region on the evening of the 23rd.  A combination of heavy snow bands developing along the front followed by strong northeast winds behind the front resulted in blizzard conditions for several hours across Boundary, Bonner, and Kootenai County's before the storm subsided the morning of the 24th.  Law enforcement reported that whiteout conditions contributed to 85 car accidents and 50 vehicle slide-offs.  Several highways were temporarily closed due to drifting snow including highway 195, highway 41 between Post Falls and Rathdrum, and westbound lanes of Interstate 90 near the highway 41 exit.  Most school districts cancelled school on February 24th.

Blizzard in NORTHERN PANHANDLE, IDAHO
From 23-FEB-11 22:00:00 to 24-FEB-11 10:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 47 mph were recorded at the Sandpoint Airport with frequent visibilities of a quarter mile.  A trained spotter in Naples, Idaho reported six birch trees, approximately six inches in diameter, were blown down due to the strong winds.  Additional reports from trained spotters and law enforcement confirmed blowing snow and large drifts along highway 95 from Bonners Ferry to Athol, Idaho.

Heavy Snow in IDAHO PALOUSE, IDAHO
From 21-FEB-11 23:00:00 to 24-FEB-11 11:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall amounts over a two and a half day period ranged from eight to fifteen inches.

Heavy Snow in NORTHERN PANHANDLE, IDAHO
From 21-FEB-11 22:00:00 to 23-FEB-11 11:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Two rounds of heavy snow moved through the area resulting in two-day snow totals ranging from eight to sixteen inches.  During the early morning hours of the 22nd, a semi-truck lost control coming down the north grade into Bonners Ferry, crashed through the jersey barrier, and nearly went over an embankment.  No injuries were reported however, the truck's fuel tank was punctured spilling one hundred gallons of diesel fuel along the highway.

Winter Storm in NORTHERN PANHANDLE, IDAHO
From 23-FEB-11 11:00:00 to 23-FEB-11 22:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A third round of heavy snow in three days brought an additional three to six inches of new snow.  Arctic air began spilling into the region resulting in sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 38 mph at the Sandpoint Airport.  A combination of heavy snow from the previous two days, single digit temperatures causing the snow to become light and fluffy, and strong northeast winds resulted in widespread areas of snow and blowing snow.

Heavy Snow in COEUR D'ALENE AREA, IDAHO
From 23-FEB-11 11:00:00 to 23-FEB-11 22:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall amounts varied from four to eight inches with isolated locations receiving around a foot.

Blizzard in COEUR D'ALENE AREA, IDAHO
From 23-FEB-11 22:00:00 to 24-FEB-11 15:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

The Coeur D'Alene airport reported sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph along with visibilities at or below half a mile due to snow and blowing snow.  Travel was severely disrupted along highway 95, highway 41, and Interstate 90 due to blowing snow.  All school districts were closed on the 24th.

Heavy Snow in CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS, IDAHO
From 21-FEB-11 21:00:00 to 24-FEB-11 17:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Four to nine inches of snow was reported with the first round of snow which fell between the 21st and 22nd.  A second wave of moisture resulted in two to five inches of snow between the 22nd and 23rd.  A third wave of moisture interacted with an arctic boundary the evening of the 23rd into the morning of the 24th resulting in an additional three to eight inches of snow.  Four day snowfall totals in the valleys ranged from eight to fifteen inches.  In the mountains, three to five feet of snow fell over the four day period with the most impressive total coming from Lookout Ski Resort which received 52 inches of new snow throughout the period.