Posted in Idaho
January 16, 2018
It’s Impossible To Forget These 5 Horrific Winter Storms That Have Gone Down In Idaho History
Despite being mid-winter, a lot of Idaho is experiencing an unusually warm and dry winter. However, Idaho has seen its fair share of crazy winters and snow storms. In fact, some of these storms proved to be utterly catastrophic for Idaho towns and cities. If you were in Idaho when these storms occurred, it’s very likely you remember them well. How many can you recall?
It was New Year's of 1961 when a three-day ice storm hit northern Idaho with incredible force. The storm brought freezing rain, dense fog, and sub-freezing temperatures to an area encompassing Grangeville to the Idaho-Canadian border. The storm also set a national record for ice accumulation with a whopping 8 inches. Damages to trees, buildings, and power outages were widespread across this region as a result of the storm.
The avalanche that occurred near Hailey, Idaho on February 25, 1917 is one of the most tragic incidents on this list. It was called the North Star Mine Disaster and resulted in the deaths of 15 miners and 17 injured. All in all, the avalanche traveled for more than a mile and destroyed power lines, a bunkhouse, and the orehouse. However, the avalanche was not the end of it. Following the disaster was three days of heavy snowfall—the heaviest Hailey had ever seen before.
The heavy snowfall that occurred in 1948-1949 is probably the most well known storm in Idaho history. This storm has gone down in our state's history as the most brutal and deadly storm we've ever seen. The result of a particularly aggressive cold snap, the storm completely shut down the southern region of Idaho. Temperatures were constantly in the negatives. Heavy snowfall plagued the state for six weeks, resulting in massive amounts of damage. Idahoans who experienced the storm firsthand most definitely remember it, and we haven't seen anything like it since.
The blizzard of '68-'69 was also a six-week storm but this time North Idaho was afflicted. Sandpoint is no stranger to snow. In fact, people travel to this beautiful town just for the endless recreational opportunities provided by the snow. However, the storm of 1968 was different. The town was caught totally off guard. They experienced constant frigid temperatures and 82 inches of snow. 12-foot drifts in town made it almost impossible to travel anywhere.
Of course, the record breaking winter of 2016-2017 deserves to be mentioned. As the result of the La Niña pattern, much of southwest Idaho was slammed with heavy snowfall for months. These southwestern towns were not at all prepared for the snow that relentlessly piled down on them. Roads were shut down, stores sold out of snow shovels, and many people weren't even able to dig their cars out of their driveways. The winter goes down in the top 10 snowiest winters southern Idaho has ever experienced, and we won't be forgetting it any time soon.
What other big winter storms do you remember? Do you remember any of these 5 Horrifying Disasters That Happened In Idaho?
