Idaho
OUR GEM: Drought and snowpack update for the Idaho Panhandle
After a dry and mild fall, many were looking forward to an increase of moisture across North Idaho to lessen the drought impacts that have persisted for the last two years. Since last fall, the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center has been advertising wetter-than-normal conditions for the winter season across the Inland NW with the arrival of La Niña.
The rounds of precipitation picked up in November and continued off and on through December and into early January. This precipitation has been beneficial and not excessive for this time of the year. With low soil moisture, much of the precipitation soaked into the thirsty ground and gave way to less runoff with only slight rises on area rivers and creeks. The snowpack got off to an early start at the higher elevations and soared above normal by late November which was a boon for area ski resorts during the holiday season. As temperatures remained mild, the higher elevations reaped the benefits of the snow, while lower elevations experienced more cold rain with sloppy snow that melted quickly.
As of mid-January, the National Resources Conservation Service mountain snow water equivalent across the Idaho Panhandle ranged from 95% to 118% of normal, and these sites were primarily above 4,500 feet. Water year precipitation, which began Oct. 1, was roughly 80% to 90% of normal for the Panhandle mountains, while the lower elevations from Sandpoint to Coeur d’Alene and Moscow to Lewiston were already above normal for the water year precipitation. With the influx of precipitation, drought conditions have seen a gradual improvement since the start of the water year with Abnormally Dry to Moderate Drought remaining across the Idaho Panhandle in the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Now it appears we’ve moved into a January lull as the storm track shifted from the region and leaving dry and cold weather, although no need to sound the alarms yet. There are still several weeks of winter left and the long-range forecasts and outlooks lean toward more active, wet weather by early February accompanied by colder temperatures. This trend is favored to continue into March and should bode well for the return to snow for northern Idaho, especially the mountains. The median peak snowpack for the Idaho Panhandle is typically around April 1 before the runoff season kicks into gear.
As for the spring runoff season, the Long Range Flood Outlook appears to mirror close to climatology. There is an elevated risk of higher flows on the mainstem rivers across the central Idaho Panhandle, including the Coeur d’Alene at Cataldo and the Palouse at Potlatch. This is dependent on how fast the snow melts and how wet the weather turns this spring. It’s slightly early yet the Northwest River Forecast Center’s Water Supply forecast is leaning toward below-normal values across the Idaho Panhandle, ranging from 70% to 90% of normal for the April to September 2025 period.
A La Niña Advisory is in effect, and this La Niña is anticipated to be short-lived and weak with conditions transitioning to ENSO-neutral during March-May 2025 (60% chance). The CPC Seasonal Outlook for March into May continues to lean toward wetter and cooler than normal conditions for northern Idaho as drought removal looks likely. Stay up to date on the latest weather forecasts and updates on the local NWS Spokane webpage at www.weather.gov/spokane.
• • •
Robin Fox is a Service Hydrologist for the National Weather Service — Spokane.
The Our Gem Coeur d’Alene Lake Collaborative is a team of committed and passionate professionals working to preserve lake health and protect water quality by promoting community awareness of local water resources through education, outreach, and stewardship. Our Gem includes local experts from the University of Idaho — Idaho Water Resources Research Institute, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, the Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission, Kootenai Environmental Alliance.
The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Monday, April 20, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 20.
Winning Powerball numbers from April 20 drawing
09-17-36-47-64, Powerball: 26, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 20 drawing
Day: 9-5-5
Night: 1-3-9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 20 drawing
Day: 9-3-4-7
Night: 6-9-2-8
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from April 20 drawing
05-07-31-41-43, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Idaho Cash numbers from April 20 drawing
05-12-27-33-45
Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 20 drawing
19-37-40-41-53, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
- Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- 5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
I remember watching a documentary about Idaho’s wildlands. A narrator said there were probably many parts of the state where no human being has ever set foot. I believe that, but I stay relatively close to the highways. If I were 30 years younger, I would probably enjoy exploring the back country, but today, unless a plane takes me in and out, it’s not happening. I can’t say definitively that there is one spot that I find better than others. We’re surrounded by beautiful terrain, however. One place keeps calling me back.
Like a Scene from a Legendary Movie
When I go over the mountain between Gooding and Fairfield, I take time to stop at the overlook above the Camas Prairie. It reminds me of a scene in Exodus, where the Paul Newman character takes an American woman to look across a flat plain leading to Mount Tabor. He explains that’s the site where Deborah gathered her armies. It makes me feel there is something godly about the Camas Prairie. I keep going back to this spot. Sometimes I take along a folding chair and sit and look at the world below.
Slow Down and See the Work of the Creator
Fairfield may be nothing more than a blip as people speed down Route 20, but it’s their loss. On the other side of the highway is some of the prettiest country in Idaho. It’s going to be a lot less lush this spring, but drought conditions haven’t been nearly as severe in the central highlands. But if I’m granted a few more years by the Almighty, I plan to see the prairie for many more springs.
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Gallery Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM
The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 19.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 9-5-1
Night: 8-0-6
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 2-7-0-3
Night: 4-3-3-3
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Idaho Cash numbers from April 19 drawing
15-28-31-38-45
Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
- Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- 5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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