Lightning caused a wildfire about 10 to 15 miles east of Blackfoot over open land. The fire eventually grew to 16,000 acres and continued to burn into August.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS PIH wrote it up.
Lightning caused a wildfire about 10 to 15 miles east of Blackfoot over open land. The fire eventually grew to 16,000 acres and continued to burn into August. The lightning struck on July 27th.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jul 27, 12:44 PM MST, 1 hour 16 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID 144 PM MDT FRI JUL 27 2012 .SHORT TERM...THE PRIMARY CONCERN THIS EVENING IS THE VIGOROUS DISTURBANCE MOVING THROUGH NORTHEAST NEVADA AND SOUTHWEST IDAHO THIS AFTERNOON. BOTH SATELLITE IMAGERY AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS SHOW RATHER DRY AIR UPSTREAM OVER NEVADA. SOME DEW POINT TEMPERATURES HAVE DROPPED INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS. HAVE ALREADY LOWERED POPS SOUTH OF IDAHO FALLS...BUT THE DISTURBANCE IS JUST NOW REACHING SOUTHWESTERN CASSIA COUNTY AROUND OAKLEY RESERVOIR WHERE DEW POINTS ARE A LITTLE HIGHER YET. IF THERE IS ENOUGH MOISTURE...CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD SHOW PRETTY SOON. OTHERWISE...CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND THE UPPER SNAKE HIGHLANDS IS WHERE MOST ACTIVITY WILL BE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. FOR SATURDAY...SOME MID LEVEL CONVERGENCE AND FORCING WILL STILL EXISTS FROM MACKAY INTO SOUTHWEST MONTANA TO SUPPORT ISOLATED AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS. TEMPERATURES REMAIN ABOUT 5 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL BUT RECORDS DO NOT APPEAR TO BE IN JEOPARDY. .LONG TERM...SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY LOOKS PRETTY DRY. THE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE CENTERED AROUND THE OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS PAN HANDLE AREA BUILDS FURTHER WEST...BUT THE WESTERLY ONSHORE COMPONENT TO THE WINDS OVER IDAHO KEEPS ANY MONSOON MOISTURE SOUTH OF THE STATE FOR A FEW DAYS. THE GFS MODEL STILL TRIES TO BRING SOME MOISTURE INTO THE CARIBOU HIGHLANDS...LATEST SOLUTION PREFERS THURSDAY OR FRIDAY. THE ECMWF MODEL REMAINS DRY THROUGH THE WEEK. EARLY MONDAY MORNING...THE NAM12 MODEL BOUNDARY LAYER WINDS SUGGEST ANOTHER SURGE OF SOUTHERLY WINDS THROUGH THE SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AND AREAS SOUTH OF POCATELLO. THEREFORE NIGHT TIME LOWS WERE BROUGHT UP FOR MONDAY MORNING. RS && .AVIATION...GUSTY WIND BEHIND THE FRONT THAT PASSED THROUGH THIS MORNING WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS HAVE CLEARED EVEN THE KIDA AREA AND WILL BE LIMITED TO AREAS NORTH OF THIS NORTHERN-MOST AIRDROME. STRENGTHENING HIGH FOR THE WEEKEND MEANS MORE STABLE AIR AND THUS LESS WIND...LOWER RISK OF THUNDERSTORMS. MESSICK && .FIRE WEATHER...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS JUST STARTING TO DEVELOP OVER THE SALMON CHALLIS AND HAVE GOTTEN CLOSE TO SOME IN THE TARGHEE PORTION OF THE C-T NF. THE CARIBOU PORTION IS JUST STARTING TO RECEIVE CONVECTION ON SATELLITE BUT LITTLE IN THE WAY OF ECHOES. WILL REFRESH THE RED FLAG WARNING AND CONTINUE FOR ALL ZONES. VERY DRY AIR IS MOVING IN BEHIND THIS FEATURE AND EXPECT MUCH LOWER AFTERNOON HUMIDITY STARTING SAT...WITH PLENTY OF SINGLE DIGIT READINGS EXPECTED AT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. WITH THE HIGH OVERHEAD THOUGH...DO NOT EXPECT WIND TO BE A FACTOR THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE NEXT CHANCE FOR RED FLAG CONDITIONS MAY BE A WEEK FROM TODAY WHEN A DRY COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED. SINCE THIS FEATURE IS A SMALL DETAIL...JURY IS OUT ON ITS EXACT TIMING WITH A WEEK TO GO...BUT DESERVES SOME MONITORING. MESSICK && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 10 PM MDT THIS EVENING IDZ413. RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 10 PM MDT THIS EVENING BELOW 6000 FEET FOR THE IDZ476. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID 413 AM MDT FRI JUL 27 2012 IDZ017>025-031-032-281015- EASTERN MAGIC VALLEY-SAWTOOTH MOUNTAINS-UPPER SNAKE HIGHLANDS- UPPER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN-LOWER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN- SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-CARIBOU HIGHLANDS- CACHE VALLEY/IDAHO PORTION-WASATCH MOUNTAINS/IDAHO PORTION- BIG AND LITTLE WOOD RIVER REGION-LOST RIVER/PAHSIMEROI- 413 AM MDT FRI JUL 27 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN IDAHO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING. SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TODAY AND TONIGHT ACROSS PARTS OF THE EASTERN HIGHLANDS AND ACROSS THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WE ASK TRAINED SPOTTERS AND CITIZENS TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. THESE CONDITIONS MAY INCLUDE HAIL...TORNADOES...STRONG WIND...DUST STORMS...SNOWFALL... EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES...FREEZING RAIN OR HEAVY RAIN...DENSE FOG...AND FLOODING OR ICE JAMS. INFORMATION ABOUT THESE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS SHOULD BE CALLED INTO YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN POCATELLO USING THE 1-800 SEVERE WEATHER HOTLINE...OR 208-233-0834.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID 1241 PM MDT FRI JUL 27 2012 IDZ018-032-271915- CUSTER ID- 1241 PM MDT FRI JUL 27 2012 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN POCATELLO HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... CENTRAL CUSTER COUNTY IN CENTRAL IDAHO UNTIL 115 PM MDT AT 1239 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF DICKEY..MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... RURAL CENTRAL CUSTER COUNTY... IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. IN ADDITION...THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. LAT...LON 4447 11398 4431 11377 4411 11410 4424 11428 TIME...MOT...LOC 1841Z 226DEG 13KT 4424 11409 JKEYES
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
1255 PM MDT FRI JUL 27 2012
IDZ032-271930-
CUSTER ID-
1255 PM MDT FRI JUL 27 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN POCATELLO HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
NORTH CENTRAL CUSTER COUNTY IN CENTRAL IDAHO
UNTIL 130 PM MDT
AT 1251 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 14 MILES NORTH OF CHALLIS..MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM ALONG WITH FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RURAL NORTHERN CUSTER COUNTY...
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.
IN ADDITION...THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR
LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 4476 11439 4476 11436 4479 11435 4485 11419
4481 11418 4476 11421 4474 11414 4476 11408
4466 11403 4459 11436 4465 11440 4470 11439
4474 11441
TIME...MOT...LOC 1854Z 248DEG 8KT 4470 11429
JKEYESSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
113 PM MDT FRI JUL 27 2012
IDZ018-031-032-272015-
BUTTE ID-BLAINE ID-CUSTER ID-
113 PM MDT FRI JUL 27 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN POCATELLO HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
CUSTER COUNTY IN CENTRAL IDAHO
NORTHWESTERN BLAINE COUNTY IN CENTRAL IDAHO
NORTH CENTRAL BUTTE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL IDAHO
UNTIL 215 PM MDT
AT 108 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
MULTIPLE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE ADVISORY AREA...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH
ARE EXPECTED...ALONG WITH FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
STANLEY...
CHALLIS...
MACKAY...
CLAYTON...
CHILLY BARTON FLATS...
GALENA SUMMIT...
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.
IN ADDITION...THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR
LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV
OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 4478 11510 4473 11495 4481 11481 4466 11473
4458 11456 4488 11421 4476 11421 4476 11408
4449 11380 4446 11345 4424 11332 4424 11301
4420 11299 4354 11459 4360 11469 4380 11471
4385 11498 4415 11503 4420 11517 4458 11531
TIME...MOT...LOC 1910Z 224DEG 14KT 4439 11399
JKEYESSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
215 PM MDT FRI JUL 27 2012
IDZ018-031-032-272115-
BUTTE ID-BLAINE ID-CUSTER ID-
215 PM MDT FRI JUL 27 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN POCATELLO HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
CUSTER COUNTY IN CENTRAL IDAHO
NORTHWESTERN BLAINE COUNTY IN CENTRAL IDAHO
NORTH CENTRAL BUTTE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL IDAHO
UNTIL 315 PM MDT
AT 209 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
MULTIPLE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE ADVISORY AREA...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS...ALONG WITH BRIEF DOWNPOURS AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
STANLEY...
CHALLIS...
MACKAY...
CLAYTON...
CHILLY BARTON FLATS...
GALENA SUMMIT...
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.
IN ADDITION...THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR
LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV
OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 4478 11510 4473 11495 4481 11481 4466 11473
4458 11456 4488 11422 4476 11421 4476 11408
4449 11380 4446 11345 4424 11332 4424 11301
4420 11299 4354 11459 4360 11469 4380 11471
4385 11498 4415 11503 4420 11517 4458 11531
TIME...MOT...LOC 2012Z 224DEG 14KT 4456 11375
JKEYES1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning caused a wildfire about 10 to 15 miles east of Blackfoot over open land. The fire eventually grew to 16,000 acres and continued to burn into August. The lightning struck on July 27th.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Idaho in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, July 2012
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 405353.