The latest in a long line of winter storms again brought very heavy snowfall as well as winds to southeast Idaho.   The heaviest snow mainly affected the Eastern Magic Valley, Snake River Plain and all of the southern mountains.   Many areas received over a foot of snowfall and again many roads experienced closures across southeast Idaho.

Winter Storm in EASTERN MAGIC VALLEY, IDAHO
From 22-JAN-17 20:00:00 to 24-JAN-17 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snow fell in the Eastern Magic Valley with 6 inches in Richfield and 7.5 inches at Minidoka Dam.    Strong winds caused extensive blowing and drifting snow and Highway 77 was closed on the 23rd and 24th from Declo south through Malta due to the extreme drifting.    The Dietrich, Shoshone, Richfield, and Minidoka County schools were all closed on the 24th due to the dangerous driving conditions.

Winter Storm in UPPER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN, IDAHO
From 22-JAN-17 18:00:00 to 24-JAN-17 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A powerful winter storm brought heavy snow and strong winds to the Upper Snake River Plain.    The snow closed Firth School District 59 on the 23rd.   Snow amounts from COOP observers were 5.5 inches in Hamer, 12 inches at Craters of the Moon, 6 inches at INL, 10 inches at Idaho Falls, 6 inches at Rigby, and 4 inches in Sugar City.    The combination of snow and wind caused Highway 26 to be closed from 5 miles west of Atomic City to 5 miles west of Blackfoot.   Highway 28 was closed from Mud Lake west through the remainder of Jefferson County.    An Idaho Transportation Department snowplow rolled over while working on US Highway 20 near milepost 278 at 3:30 pm on the 23rd, near the east boundary of INL site.   Travel was blocked in all lanes for over 5 hours.   The weight of snow collapsed a vacant building on Rollandet Street in Idaho Falls on the morning of the 24th.   Idaho State Police District 6 reported 27 slide-offs and 7 crashes on the 23rd and 24th.

Winter Storm in WASATCH MOUNTAINS/IADHO PORTION, IDAHO
From 22-JAN-17 10:00:00 to 24-JAN-17 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Extremely heavy snow fell in the Idaho Wasatch with the following SNOTEL amounts:  Franklin Basin 34 inches, Giveout 16 inches, Slug Creek Divide 24 inches.   The COOP observer in Bern reported 12 inches.  All Bear Lake County schools were closed on the 23rd and 24th.

Winter Storm in SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, IDAHO
From 22-JAN-17 13:00:00 to 24-JAN-17 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A very powerful Pacific storm brought heavy snow and strong winds to the South Central Highlands.   COOP observers reported 13.5 inches of snow in Malad City and 7.2 inches in Malta.    SNOTEL amounts were 17 inches at Magic Mountain, 9 inches at Bostetter Ranger Station, 13 inches at Howell Canyon, and 22 inches at Oxford Springs.    Oneida County schools were closed on the 23rd and 24th and Cassia County Schools were closed on the 24th.   Snow and wind closed Highway 38 from Malad to Holbrook on the 23rd and 24th.  Highway 77 was closed from Malta to Declo.   Highway 81 was closed from milepost 0.5 in Malta to milepost 15.

Winter Storm in CACHE VALLEY/IDAHO PORTION, IDAHO
From 22-JAN-17 14:00:00 to 24-JAN-17 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Another Pacific storm brought extremely heavy snow to the Cache Valley.   The Preston COOP observer reported 12.9 inches of snow.    The Westside School District 202 was closed on the 23rd.  Preston Schools were closed on the 24th.   Highway 36 between Interstate 15 and Weston was closed for several hours on the 23rd due to a tractor-trailer and other vehicles getting stuck.

Heavy Snow in BIG AND LITTLE WOOD RIVER REGION, IDAHO
From 22-JAN-17 14:00:00 to 23-JAN-17 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Although the heaviest snow with this storm fell to the south and southeast of the Wood River region, the Galena Summit SNOTEL got 10 inches of snow and the Lost Wood Divide SNOTEL got  8 inches.   COOP observers reported 5 inches in Bellevue and 7.2 inches in Ketchum.    Although not receiving heavy snow, the weight of the month's total snow collapsed a building in Bellevue in the early morning hours on the 24th.

Winter Storm in CARIBOU HIGHLANDS, IDAHO
From 22-JAN-17 12:00:00 to 24-JAN-17 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Extremely heavy snowfall caused hazardous travel and school shutdowns in the Caribou Highlands.    Snowfall reports from COOP observers were:  6.5 inches in Bone, 19 inches in Downey, 8.5 inches in Swan Valley, and 11 inches in McCammon.   Interstate 15 was closed on the evening of the 23rd for a short time near Downey due to a traffic accident.   SNOTEL amounts were 25 inches at Sedgwick Peak, 10 inches at Sheep Mountain, 16 inches at Somsen Ranch, and 19 inches at Wildhorse Divide.   Marsh Valley School District 21 and North Gem School District 149 were closed on the 23rd and 24th.   All Caribou County Schools were closed on the 23rd and 24th as well.

Winter Storm in LOWER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN, IDAHO
From 22-JAN-17 20:00:00 to 24-JAN-17 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Another in a series of winter storms brought extremely heavy snow and strong winds to the Lower Snake River Plain.    The following snow amounts were reported by COOP observers, spotters, and NWS employees:   Aberdeen 15 inches, American Falls 9.5 inches, Fort Hall 7 inches, Pocatello benches 15 to 25 inches, Pocatello NWS office 13.4 inches, Chubbuck 14 inches, downtown Pocatello 9 inches.   The 8.6 inches at the Pocatello NWS office on the 23rd was a single day record for the month of January.   Highway 26 was closed 5 miles west of Blackfoot on the 23rd and 24th due to the snow and high winds.   Aberdeen schools were sent home early on the 23rd and were closed on the 24th.   Pocatello-Chubbuck School District 25, American Falls School District 381, Blackfoot School District 55, Snake River School District 52 and Shoshone-Bannock Schools were all closed on the 24th.       Idaho State University closed classes on the 24th.   Pocatello City and non-essential Bannock County offices were also closed on the 24th.   The Pocatello NWS office set a record for total January snowfall with this storm with a monthly total of 32.2 inches.

Winter Storm in UPPER SNAKE HIGHLANDS, IDAHO
From 22-JAN-17 15:00:00 to 24-JAN-17 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Although snowfall was not heavy in the Upper Snake Highlands, the combination of snow and wind closed Highway 28 through all of Clark County in western Clark County on the 23rd and 24th.   Highway 22 was also closed west of Dubois.  Snow amounts were 4 inches in Dubois, 6 inches in St. Anthony, and 3 inches in Small.