Heaviest Snow Of The Season Dumps Over 7 Inches In Viola

Snowfall totals reach record levels for the mild winter so far.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Palouse region of Idaho saw significant snowfall on Tuesday night, with the town of Viola receiving over 7 inches - the highest total in the area. Other nearby towns like Palouse and Thornton also saw heavy accumulations of 5.5 and 4 inches respectively. The National Weather Service has a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for the mountains, calling for additional snowfall through the evening.

Why it matters

Snowfall of this magnitude is unusual for the Palouse region, which has experienced a relatively mild winter so far. The heavy snow could impact travel, school closures, and other daily activities in the affected communities.

The details

According to reports to the National Weather Service, the town of Viola received the most snow in the Palouse region, with just over 7 inches accumulating. Nearby Palouse saw 5.5 inches, while Thornton had 4 inches of snowfall. The NWS has a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for the mountains, calling for an additional couple of inches of snow until 10:00 PM tonight.

  • The heavy snowfall occurred on Tuesday night.
  • The National Weather Service's Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 10:00 PM tonight.

The players

National Weather Service

The federal agency responsible for weather forecasting and issuing weather-related advisories and warnings.

Viola

A town in the Palouse region of Idaho that received the highest snowfall total of over 7 inches.

Palouse

A town in the Palouse region of Idaho that received 5.5 inches of snowfall.

Thornton

A town in the Palouse region of Idaho that received 4 inches of snowfall.

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The takeaway

The heavy snowfall in the Palouse region serves as a reminder that even mild winters can still bring significant winter weather events that can impact daily life in affected communities.