Another prolonged winter storm affected the entirety of southeast Idaho beginning in the mountains during the day on the 23rd and spreading east through the Snake River Plain and eastern highlands on the 24th and continuing through Christmas day.   Every single zone in the Pocatello forecast area was affected by this storm with extremely heavy snowfall, strong winds and horrible driving conditions.

Winter Storm in EASTERN MAGIC VALLEY, IDAHO
From 24-DEC-16 06:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP observers reported 8 inches of snow in Picabo and 6 inches in Richfield.

Heavy Snow in SAWTOOTH MOUNTAINS, IDAHO
From 23-DEC-16 11:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

SNOTEL amounts with this storm were:  13 inches at Bear Canyon, 17 inches at Smiley Mountain, and 10 inches at Stickney Mill.  The Stanley COOP observer reported 6 inches.

Heavy Snow in UPPER SNAKE HIGHLANDS, IDAHO
From 23-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Many spotters and COOP observers reported very heavy snow.    Ashton had 11 inches, Dubois 14 inches, St Anthony 15 inches, and Small 16 inches.  The following SNOTEL amounts were recorded:  Black Bear 14 inches, Crab Creek 23 inches, Island Park 14 inches, and White Elephant 34 inches.

Heavy Snow in UPPER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN, IDAHO
From 24-DEC-16 05:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snow fell throughout the Upper Snake River Plain with many reports received from spotters and COOP observers.  Idaho Falls received 8 to 10 inches and the city implemented a parking ban on streets.   Other heavy snowfall amounts were:  9 inches in Hamer, 10 inches in Rigby, 12 inches in Roberts, and 15 inches in Sugar City.

Heavy Snow in LOWER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN, IDAHO
From 24-DEC-16 10:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

The lower Snake River Plain experienced a very white Christmas.    Snow began falling in the late morning and early afternoon Christmas eve and continued through the entire day on Christmas day.   Some of the heavy amounts of snow reported were the following:  Aberdeen 8 inches, American Falls 6 inches, In the Pocatello and Chubbuck city region amounts of 14 to 17 inches fell, and 12 inches in Blackfoot.

Blizzard in SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, IDAHO
From 23-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

A blizzard hit the South Central Highlands over the Christmas weekend with interstate 84 shut down from the interstate 86 junction to the Utah border.   Visibility was reduced to zero in places with winds gusting to over 50 mph along the interstate, especially at Yale Road.   Snow amounts with the storm from SNOTEL sites were:  6 inches at Bostetter Ranger Station, 20 inches at Howell Canyon, 7 inches at Magic Mountain, and 17 inches at Oxford Springs.

Heavy Snow in CARIBOU HIGHLANDS, IDAHO
From 23-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Heavy snow amounts over the weekend at SNOTEL sites were:  Sedgwick Peak 25 inches, Somsen Ranch 10 inches, Sheep Mountain 13 inches, and Wildhorse Divide 24 inches.   Some COOP observer reports were 6 inches in Downey and 7 inches in Swan Valley.

Heavy Snow in CACHE VALLEY/IDAHO PORTION, IDAHO
From 24-DEC-16 10:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

The city of Preston reported 12 inches of snow over the Christmas weekend.

Heavy Snow in WASATCH MOUNTAINS/IADHO PORTION, IDAHO
From 23-DEC-16 11:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Heavy snowfall at SNOTEL sites were the following:  Emigrant Summit 14 inches and Slug Creek Divide 10 inches.  The Bern COOP observer reported 8 inches.

Heavy Snow in BIG AND LITTLE WOOD RIVER REGION, IDAHO
From 23-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

SNOTEL sites reported the following heavy snow amounts:  Chocolate Gulch 15 inches, Dollarhide Summit 17 inches, Garfield Ranger Station 13 inches, Galena Summit 12 inches, Hyndman 12 inches, Lost Wood Divide 16 inchesSwede Peak 20 inches, and Vienna Mine 14 inches.   COOP observers reported 10 inches at Ketchum and 13 inches at Bellevue.

Heavy Snow in LOST RIVER / PAHSIMEROI, IDAHO
From 23-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The following heavy snow amounts were recorded at SNOTEL sites:  Hilts Creek 13 inches, Meadow Lake 12 inches, Moonshine 11 inches, and Morgan Creek 7 inches.