If the first week of winter is any indication of what is to come this season, it could be an above average year for snow here in Boundary County. It was most definitely a white Christmas, with snow-filled clouds rolling in a couple of days before the holiday and dropping flakes over the weekend and throughout the start of the following week.

According to the Western Regional Climate Center, which works with the National Weather Service, Department of Interior Climate Centers, NOAA Research Institutes and a number of other organizations in order to deliver climate information to the public and serve as a database for historical climate information, the county received upwards of 21 inches of snow this December as of the morning of Dec. 27. By around noon on that day, however, large snowflakes were continuing to fall in downtown Bonners Ferry and that number is expected to grow incrementally as more precipitation is in the forecast through Thursday, the 29th.

While this number is actually pretty close to the county’s historical December average of 19.5 inches of snowfall, it is certainly more than usual when compared to last winter’s total snowfall of approximately 30 inches, and even more so when compared to the previous winter’s 17.6 inches. According to those statistics, Boundary County has already received more snow this December than it did throughout the whole winter of 2015/16, and a couple more storms should bring us well past last year’s total.

All things being relative, however, 20+ inches of snow isn’t all that much when compared to the record-setting amount of snow the county had in December of 1996/97--63.6 inches--or even when compared to the snowy Decembers of 2007/08 and 08/09, when the county saw over 50 inches during that month each year.

What these numbers do tell us is that we should see more of a “normal” winter here in northern Idaho, an area that gets a historical average of over 60 inches of snow each winter.

What does that mean for residents of this part of the state? Well, for one: keep your shovels handy.

It also means that drivers should expect sketchy road conditions and should drive with extra care, especially on Highway 95, where a combination of slick roads and large tractor-trailers significantly increases the potential for accidents. Drivers should ensure that the brakes and tires on their vehicles are in good shape, and since accidents happen no matter how careful you might be on the road, it’s never a bad idea to have an emergency kit somewhere in the car. A few simple necessities such as blankets, snacks and water really come in handy should your vehicle slide off the road or break down for some reason.

On the brighter side, these storms are welcomed with open arms by snowsports enthusiasts. The December snowfall has made for a solid base at nearby Schweitzer Mountain, and opportunities for nordic skiing are opening up all around the Kootenai Valley. The auto tour road at the Kootenai Wildlife Refuge, for example, is now closed off to vehicles but is wide open to cross country skis and snowshoes for the remainder of the season. The refuge is a great place to get your skis underneath you before taking on more challenging routes elsewhere.

More snow will also benefit area watersheds, which have suffered somewhat in recent years from drought. Swollen rivers, while dangerous in the springtime, benefit nearly everyone, from farmers to fishermen, and they are indicators of a healthy ecosystem.

While it is impossible to predict how much snow might fall in 2017, and any meteorologist will tell you that weather can be fickle and forecasts flawed, it seems like winter has only just begun up here in the Far North.