Central Idaho highway closed, avalanche danger

BOISE — The Idaho Transportation Department has closed a 12-mile stretch of a central Idaho highway because of the potential for avalanches as a winter storm moves in. The winding stretch of Idaho 21 between the Grandjean Junction and Banner Summit was closed today. The road connects Boise and Stanley, but the area between the Grandjean Junction and Banner Summit is often closed in the winter. The Idaho Statesman reports the snowpack in the area was stable Tuesday, but the National Weather Service was forecasting heavy snow and near blizzard conditions across Banner Summit and other parts of west central Idaho from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon as a strong winter storm moves across the region.