The North American ice storm of January 1961 was a massive ice storm that struck areas of the Idaho Panhandle in the United States on January 1–3, 1961.[1] The storm set a record for thickest recorded ice accumulation from a single storm in the United States, at eight inches.[2][3]
| Type | Ice storm |
|---|---|
| Formed | January 1, 1961 |
| Dissipated | January 3, 1961 |
| Lowest pressure | Unknown |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | ~8 inches (freezing rain) |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Areas affected | northern Idaho |
The storm's swath covered areas from Grangeville, Idaho, to the Canada–United States border. According to the National Weather Service, a combination of dense fog, sub-freezing temperatures, and occasional freezing rain led to the heavy ice accretions. Catastrophic damage to trees and utilities resulted in widespread power outages.[2][4]
Prior to the storm, previous records of between four and six inches of ice were recorded in New York City and Texas.[2]