Posted in Idaho Nature February 02, 2019 by Emerson

50 Years Ago, Idaho Was Hit With The Worst Blizzard In History

This winter has been pretty mild for the majority of our state so far. It can be easy to forget just how nuts our Idaho winters can actually be. The Gem State has definitely had its fair share of winter storms over the years, but the blizzard of 1968-1969 is still believed to be one of the craziest. It’s possible you remember this storm vividly if you were living in Idaho at the time. After all, it’s considered the worst blizzard in our state’s history to this very day. You might find yourself extra thankful for our current low-key winter after reading all about it below!

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Idaho, especially our northern region, is no stranger to copious amounts of snow. However, there was one winter that brought one of the worst blizzards in our state's recent history to the town of Sandpoint, and some residents remember it to this day.

It's referred to as The Blizzard of '69, but it actually started during the last few days of 1968. It started off with frigid temperatures, with some reports saying it got as low as -30 degree, and a prominent snowfall that left two feet of fluffy white stuff on the sidewalks.

A few days later, the blizzard really began. The snow started pouring in at record amounts and it was up to 32 inches in no time. This was a considerable amount over the December average of 20 inches.

The thing people remember most about this blizzard is just how long it went on. It was still in full force by January 23, weeks after the initial snowfall. By this time, 67 inches of snow had fallen. Schools were closed. Transportation was non-existent.

By the end of January, Sandpoint had accumulated 82 inches of snow. Towering 12-foot drifts covered the town and people officially couldn't get anywhere without becoming stranded. It seemed like there was no end in sight.

The blizzard finally subsided on February 6 after many weeks of terrorizing Sandpoint and other North Idaho residents. It's been half a century since this epic storm occurred, but it's an incredible event that won't be forgotten anytime soon.

Do you remember Idaho’s worst blizzard? Our current winter is laughable compared to that! For more intense winter seasons that will never be forgotten, check out our list of 5 Unforgettable Winter Storms That Happened In Idaho.