Does it snow in December in Idaho? - 2023 (2023)

FAQs

Is there snow in Idaho in December? ›

The average sliding 31-day snowfall during December in Boise is increasing, starting the month at 2.0 inches, when it rarely exceeds 6.3 inches or falls below -0.0 inches, and ending the month at 3.3 inches, when it rarely exceeds 8.9 inches or falls below 0.1 inches.

The snowy period of the year lasts for 4.4 months, from November 4 to March 17, with a sliding 31-day snowfall of at least 1.0 inches. The month with the most snow in Idaho Falls is December, with an average snowfall of 4.4 inches.

Winter means snow! Major snow typically lasts from November to April, but it has been known to snow as early as September and as late as June.

Annual Weather Summary

Winter will be warmer than normal, with the coldest periods in mid-November and early February. Precipitation will be above normal, with above-average snowfall in the far north and far south.

We hate to break it to you, but the probability of a White Christmas in Idaho's capital city isn't great. The average temperature on Christmas Day is 36º. The average snowfall is about . 2" and there's typically no measurable snow on the ground.

Average Temperature in Boise

The cold season lasts for 3.1 months, from November 18 to February 21, with an average daily high temperature below 47°F. The coldest month of the year in Boise is January, with an average low of 25°F and high of 38°F.

Seriously. The Weather Channel's original study tallied Island Park's annual average snowfall at just over 211 inches. That's a whopping 17 1/2 feet, in case you were wondering. A more accurate average gives Island Park an annual snowfall of around 12 feet, or approximately 154 inches.

Snowfall at Boise averages around 20 inches per year but can vary from a low of only a few inches to 30 to 40 inches. With milder temperatures frequently in the Treasure Valley during the winter, snowfall is not as great as in other mid-latitude locations.

The best time to visit Idaho is between June to September. The average temperatures during this time vary according to the season but the mean ranged from 59-68F. The state sees four distinct seasons, each offering tourists a different experience. The spring season is from March to May.

Stanley, Idaho, United States (-52.6 Fahrenheit/-47 Celsius)

The title of coldest place in the continental United States belongs to Stanley, Idaho, a town 130 miles (209 km) east of Boise.

What are the winters like in Idaho? ›

Winter Weather in Boise Idaho, United States. Daily high temperatures increase by 8°F, from 42°F to 50°F, rarely falling below 23°F or exceeding 61°F. The lowest daily average high temperature is 36°F on January 2. Daily low temperatures increase by 4°F, from 29°F to 33°F, rarely falling below 10°F or exceeding 42°F.

But does it snow in Idaho? Idaho has a continental climate that varies greatly from the western to the eastern parts of the state. The west part of the state experiences maritime influence thanks to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. As such, this region of the state witnesses dry summers and wet, snowy winters.

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.

ITD uses salt and plowing to treat the road surface in wintry, slick conditions because this is currently the most effective method for keeping winter roads as clear and as safe as possible.

One of the coldest cities in the world, Fairbanks, Alaska, gets its fair share of snow during the winter. It also has a 100% chance of snow on Christmas Day. Another major Alaskan city, Anchorage, isn't far behind with a 96% chance.

Snowiest States Research Summary

The state with the snowiest Christmas in the U.S. is Michigan, with a 36% chance of snowfall on December 25th.

"Most of Idaho, Minnesota, Maine, upstate New York, the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and, of course, the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada Mountains all have a high probability of seeing a white Christmas," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Temperate means an area has four seasons with great changes in the average temperatures between summer and winter. All areas of Idaho undergo the transition through the four seasons, but the seasons manifest differently according to geographic location.

There's cold, and then there's cold.

In fact, Idaho's small mountain town of Stanley often sees some of the coldest temperatures in the continental US. With an average of 292 days per year below freezing and a record low of -54°F, Idahoans aren't sissies about winter.

Where is the best place to live in Idaho? ›

Each year, Sandpoint, Idaho experiences approximately 30 days of winter weather, totaling an average annual snowfall of 58 inches. Winter weather conditions typically occur between November and March.

The coldest monthly mean minimum temperature has been -20° F, and the warmest monthly mean maximum 104° F. The highest long-term annual average has been 55°F at Swan Falls Power House, and the lowest long-term average 35° F at Obsidian.

Montana - 42.6 °F. Vermont - 43.2 °F. Wisconsin - 44 °F. Idaho - 44 °F.

The Winter months offer some of the most unique attractions the state has to offer! Winter is a peak tourism time to visit the state, due to the snowy outdoor activities it has to offer.

The coldest nights drop down to below 0 °F (-18 °C). It normally only gets that cold here one or two times a year, usually in December and January. On an average of 16 days annually the thermometer never rises above freezing. Days that chilly show up during November to March.

Idaho and Vermont are ranked eighth and ninth coldest states in the US with 45.3 Fº, and 45.7 F° respectively.

Boise, ID. Boise, the capital city of Idaho, is one of the most beautiful places to live in the Pacific Northwest and one of the best places in the U.S. for year-round weather.

Daily high temperatures decrease by 7°F, from 36°F to 28°F, rarely falling below 15°F or exceeding 48°F. Daily low temperatures decrease by 6°F, from 20°F to 14°F, rarely falling below -3°F or exceeding 33°F.

What salary do you need to live in Idaho? ›

Most blizzards, as you'd expect, happen from December to February—that's meteorological winter, and peak snow season. But when they happen outside that timeframe, it's actually more common to get them in spring than in the fall.

Greatest Snowfall in One Season:

46.5 inches – The greatest cumulative snow fall for Boise, Idaho. This occurred during the year that ended December 31st, 1964.

The Plains region that encompasses North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska see the highest frequency of blizzards in the US. This stat is driven by the readily available amount of cold air that resides here combined with the frequent passage of low pressure systems that the area experiences.

While eastern Idaho is typically dry and cold in the winter (not ideal conditions for humidity), a vehicle, covered in snow and salt and parked in a garage, will create the right conditions for rust.

Overall, pre-salting the road forms a separating layer so if snow falls, it doesn't freeze onto the road surface and can be removed easily. Therefore, we would recommend salting driveways before snowing as it is always easier and more efficient than doing it after.

Generally, salt loses its effectiveness once the temperature falls below 15 degrees. When temperatures are that cold, the salt simply can't get into the structure of the frozen water or ice to start the dissolving and melting process.

There's cold, and then there's cold.

In fact, Idaho's small mountain town of Stanley often sees some of the coldest temperatures in the continental US. With an average of 292 days per year below freezing and a record low of -54°F, Idahoans aren't sissies about winter.

It snows just about everywhere in Idaho, but your location within the state truly affects how much snow you receive on average.

Additionally, Stanley, Idaho is frequently named as one of the coldest places in the state. Stanley's reported coldest ever temperature is a frigid -52 degrees F.

Does Idaho get blizzards? ›

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.

For a combination of factors, the state of Idaho experiences one of the coldest winters in the entire country. For year-round temperature averages, it ranks in the top 10, just following Wisconsin and New Hampshire.

Idaho is one of the coldest regions in the United States of America with an average daily high temperature of only 15 degrees. The climate is varied and offers seasons with strong winters and warm summers.

Sandpoint. In the northern tip of Idaho, Sandpoint has breathtaking natural features everywhere you look. The town is located on the vast 43-mile-long Lake Pend Oreille, which boasts a total of 111 miles of shoreline – plus it's surrounded by the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains.