Alert archive / Idaho / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Pocatello, ID
NWS Pocatello, ID issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 17, 2026, 2:29 PM MDT for 5 counties in Idaho. It was in force for 46 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Sep 17, 2026, 2:29 PM MDT (20:29 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 17, 2026, 3:15 PM MDT
- In force
- 46 min
- Issued by
- NWS Pocatello, ID
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Bingham County, ID, Blaine County, ID, Butte County, ID, Minidoka County, ID, Power County, ID
The radar
The Pocatello radar (KSFX), 35 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:33 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Salt Lake City I, UT (KSLC), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 293 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 339 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -89 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1793 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 31 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 59 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 70 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.1
The text
As transmitted.
336
WUUS55 KPIH 172029
SVRPIH
IDC011-013-023-067-077-172115-
/O.NEW.KPIH.SV.W.0049.260917T2029Z-260917T2115Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
229 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
The National Weather Service in Pocatello has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
East central Blaine County in central Idaho...
Southeastern Butte County in southeastern Idaho...
Northwestern Power County in southeastern Idaho...
West central Bingham County in southeastern Idaho...
Northeastern Minidoka County in south central Idaho...
* Until 315 PM MDT.
* At 228 PM MDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 14 miles southeast of Craters Of The Moon to 23
miles west of Springfield to 13 miles northwest of Aberdeen, moving
northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
* Locations impacted include...
Southwest Inl, Coxs Well Airport, and Big Southern Butte.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will send your report to the National Weather Service
office in Pocatello.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4354 11309 4339 11274 4317 11265 4297 11313
4308 11322 4323 11348
TIME...MOT...LOC 2028Z 229DEG 21KT 4321 11336 4314 11315 4302 11309
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
JKeyes1 follow-up statement
116
WWUS55 KPIH 172052
SVSPIH
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
252 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
IDC067-172101-
/O.CAN.KPIH.SV.W.0049.000000T0000Z-260917T2115Z/
Minidoka ID-
252 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN MINIDOKA COUNTY
IS CANCELLED...
The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the warned
area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
&&
LAT...LON 4354 11309 4339 11274 4317 11265 4297 11313
4312 11322 4332 11337
TIME...MOT...LOC 2051Z 228DEG 21KT 4334 11317 4323 11301 4311 11295
$$
IDC011-013-023-077-172115-
/O.CON.KPIH.SV.W.0049.000000T0000Z-260917T2115Z/
Blaine ID-Butte ID-Power ID-Bingham ID-
252 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM MDT
FOR SOUTHEASTERN BLAINE...SOUTHEASTERN BUTTE...NORTHWESTERN POWER AND
WEST CENTRAL BINGHAM COUNTIES...
At 251 PM MDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 12 miles southwest of Southwest Inl to 18 miles
southwest of Atomic City to 12 miles northwest of Aberdeen, moving
northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Southwest Inl, Coxs Well Airport, and Big Southern Butte.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
Pocatello.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4354 11309 4339 11274 4317 11265 4297 11313
4312 11322 4332 11337
TIME...MOT...LOC 2051Z 228DEG 21KT 4334 11317 4323 11301 4311 11295
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
KBWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Pocatello, ID wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Sep 17, 12:52 PM MDT, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Showers and thunderstorms continue through Saturday
- Hail and gusty winds are possible with storms through this evening, and locally heavy rainfall through Saturday
- Cooler temperatures are expected through Saturday before slowly warming up next week
Area forecast discussion, Sep 17, 12:52 PM MDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pocatello ID 1252 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Showers and thunderstorms continue through Saturday - Hail and gusty winds are possible with storms through this evening, and locally heavy rainfall through Saturday - Cooler temperatures are expected through Saturday before slowly warming up next week && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1250 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026 Showers and thunderstorms have continued today as one of more waves spin north across Idaho ahead of the low centered over northern California. Showers and storms already this morning have produced moderate to heavy rainfall, as moisture continues to become deeper and more conducive for this to happen. For the rest of today and into this evening, more showers and storms will develop...especially where the dry slot behind this morning's precipitation has allowed for more sunshine to interact with the humid airmass in place. Heavy rainfall at times is possible and will be the main impact. Some stronger storms will produce hail and gusty winds over 40 mph. The latter is already evident due to outflow from storms over the eastern/southeast highlands, creating a slow moving outflow boundary across the Snake Plain and into portions of the Magic Valley. It is likely this boundary will become an additional focus for storm development, in addition to anything from pure heating. There is a MARGINAL RISK for severe storms across the area, and certainly is possible with the conditions setting up. The overall pattern remains unchanged through Saturday, as the cutoff low over California is finally picked back up by the steering flow across the rest of the western U.S. The low will still be a slow mover, and finally shifts over the state on Saturday. Until that low passes, expect multiple rounds of showers and storms producing heavy rainfall at times. A combination of much higher moisture content and more widespread showers and storms tomorrow into Saturday, the potential for higher rainfall amounts has jumped up quite a bit. Will everyone see the heaviest rainfall in the forecast? No, but the potential is there and higher than the past day or so. From the Wood River Valley south across the Magic Valley and into the South Hills/Albion Mountains, potential rainfall amounts through Saturday afternoon are the "lowest" and up to 0.35 is possible. Elsewhere, the potential is there from 0.50-1.0" with locally higher amounts. The current storm total forecast is likely showing the higher end of the forecast ranges, as likely not every square mile shown in the gridded forecast is going to see those amounts. We considered Flash Flood Watches especially in areas with burn scars, but for now are opting to handle it on a case-by-case basis in terms of any needed warnings. Wraparound showers and storms are possible Sunday. Heading into next week, there is a struggle on what happens with the next low moving into the western U.S. Before it appeared the low would stay the south and we would remain dry. There is some indication it may now drift far enough north to bring some clouds and potentially more showers and storms. That seems to be handled by the Blend of Models which does have isolated coverage daily across portions of central and eastern Idaho. Temperatures will struggle to hit the 70s tomorrow and Saturday, before warming back up early next week. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1250 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026 VFR conditions expected outside of any showers and thunderstorms. Slow moving low pressure system will keep clouds and precipitation in place through the period. Best thunderstorm potential will continue through the evening but even some nocturnal storms remain possible overnight with storms appearing likely again for Friday afternoon. PROB30s continue for this afternoon with gusty winds possible in and around thunderstorm outflows but synoptic winds are expected to remain generally light. CIGs should stay high enough to remain VFR with BKN/OVC coverage but again some localized, brief reductions will be possible with storms. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1250 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026 A low pressure system moving through the region will produce intermittent showers and thunderstorms over the next 36-48 hours. Ample wetting rainfall is expected especially across the central mountains and eastern highlands, with lower totals in the Magic Valley and south Hills areas. This system will depart over the weekend allowing for drier weather to setup by the second half of the weekend and into much of next week. && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...Keyes AVIATION...McKaughan FIRE WEATHER...McKaughan
In the hours before
Local storm report, Sep 17, 12:46 PM MDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
1246 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0940 AM Hail Gannett 43.35N 114.18W
09/17/2026 M1.25 Inch Blaine ID Public
&&Local storm report, Sep 17, 12:50 PM MDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
1250 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0940 AM Hail Gannett 43.35N 114.18W
09/17/2026 M0.88 Inch Blaine ID Public
Corrects previous hail report from Gannett.
&&Special weather statement, Sep 17, 1:50 PM MDT, 39 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
150 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
IDZ051-055-172015-
Eastern Magic Valley ID-Shoshone/Lava Beds ID-
150 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN BLAINE...WESTERN
POWER AND EAST CENTRAL MINIDOKA COUNTIES THROUGH 215 PM MDT...
At 150 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Minidoka, or 14 miles northwest of Lake Walcott, moving northeast at
20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts in excess of 45 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Bear Trap Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4277 11354 4286 11365 4311 11339 4294 11322
TIME...MOT...LOC 1950Z 215DEG 20KT 4285 11352
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...45 MPH
TWSpecial weather statement, Sep 17, 1:52 PM MDT, 37 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
152 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
IDZ051-052-172015-
Arco/Mud Lake Desert ID-Shoshone/Lava Beds ID-
152 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL BLAINE...SOUTH
CENTRAL BUTTE...NORTHEASTERN LINCOLN AND NORTHEASTERN MINIDOKA
COUNTIES THROUGH 215 PM MDT...
At 152 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 16
miles south of Craters Of The Moon, or 18 miles southeast of Carey,
moving northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts in excess of 45 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Craters Of The Moon.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4305 11367 4315 11379 4342 11357 4326 11326
TIME...MOT...LOC 1952Z 215DEG 18KT 4315 11363
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...45 MPH
TWLocal storm report, Sep 17, 2:08 PM MDT, 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
208 PM MDT Thu Sep 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1245 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 ENE Fort Hall 43.03N 112.41W
09/17/2026 M46 MPH Bingham ID Mesonet
Mesonet station 8436 D5 Fort Hall I-15.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Pocatello, ID issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 17, 12:09 AM MDT | Special Weather Statement | PIH | Oneida | 51 min |
| Sep 17, 12:46 AM MDT | Special Weather Statement | PIH | Power | 29 min |
| Sep 17, 10:04 AM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | PIH | Jefferson, Madison | 3 hr |
| Sep 17, 1:47 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PIH | Oneida, Power | 28 min |
| Sep 17, 1:50 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | PIH | Minidoka | 25 min |
| Sep 17, 1:52 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | PIH | Blaine | 23 min |
| Sep 17, 2:12 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PIH | Bingham, Blaine, Butte | 33 min |
| Sep 17, 2:14 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PIH | Bannock, Oneida, Power | 16 min |
| Sep 17, 2:43 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PIH | Bingham, Butte, Jefferson | 47 min |
| Sep 17, 3:16 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | PIH | Bingham | 29 min |
| Sep 17, 3:28 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PIH | Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Jefferson | 62 min |
| Sep 17, 4:16 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PIH | Bonneville, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison | 44 min |
| Sep 17, 4:57 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | PIH | Clark, Fremont | 48 min |
| Sep 17, 5:38 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | PIH | Bingham | 37 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Idaho, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.