Lightning started the Grape Creek Fire on September 1st and continued into mid | September. The fire grew to 1,580 acres near Elba.
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 started the Grape Creek Fire on September 1st and continued into mid | September. The fire grew to 1,580 acres near Elba. The Independence Lake Trail was closed as well as Logger Springs Road. It was considered completely contained on September 9th.
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 Sep 1, 12:24 PM MST, 2 hours 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pocatello ID 124 PM MDT THU SEP 1 2016 .Discussion...A few showers and thunderstorms this afternoon slowly progressing eastward through the Snake Plain and Eastern Highlands, supported by left exit region of a upper level jet. Should take until the early morning hours Friday to clear this area. Drier air moves in on Friday, leaving strong and gusty surface winds as the main concern for fire activity. The low pressure disturbance currently near the south coast of British Columbia is expected to swing through Washington and the Idaho Pan handle, then lift northeast. Energy on the upstream side of the broad trough continues to dig the trough southward. Then, the next disturbance that drops south near the coast of British Columbia Saturday, has a better chance to swing through southeast Idaho late Saturday night and Sunday. The last couple models runs are supporting this trend. High temperatures for Saturday were increased a few degrees, while the chance for rain was increased Saturday night into Monday morning. Also adjusted the snow levels over the central mountains a little lower so it is possible for some very light accumulation on the higher peaks Sunday/Monday. Model timing and amplitude of subsequent embedded disturbances Tuesday onward are not the same and have resisted making any large changes at this time. RS && .AVIATION...VFR Weather should continue through tomorrow. We are seeing showers and thunderstorms around today so we feel confident with the current forecast of VCTS at all sites through sometime this evening or overnight. Gusty outflow winds are possible with this activity. What overall wind we have out there this afternoon should die down tonight, only to return tomorrow even stronger. All sites except KBYI should see sustained 15-20kts with gusts close to 30kts. KSUN should see some afternoon winds out of the west due to gap flow and a potential switch to northwest late in the afternoon vs evening. Keyes && .FIRE WEATHER...The combination of overall gusty winds, low humidity and even some thunderstorms will keep Red Flag Warnings going through this evening except for Zones 410 and 425. Although, those zones may even isolated storms before midnight. Gusty outflow winds and little rain can be expected. We should see winds except at ridgetop level die down overnight, but isolated storms are still possible especially east of Monida-INL-Malta line. The cold front works through the area for tomorrow bringing stronger winds but some moderation in temperatures and humidity. Winds gusts of 25-40mph are possible over most areas except the Magic Valley and south-central highlands (425/427). Even with the higher humidity, the extreme dry fuels and wind combination could lead to rapid fire growth. Once we are through the current round of warnings, we will issue a Red Flag Warning for Zones 410/411/413/422/475/476 just for those reasons. It should be rain free save for a few showers/storms from around Stanley to Bannock Pass. Starting later Saturday, we should a fairly wet period heading into Sunday night and Monday. Some of the latest data suggests we could see drying from southwest to northeast Monday but it all depends on the speed of the storm moving through eastern Idaho. It will keep cooling down as the main low passes through. In fact, we might even some light snow on higher peaks as snow levels drop to between 8500 and 10000ft. It may not be enough to accumulate but still the potential of at least SEEING snow is there. Also expect occasional isolated thunderstorms with this event. Keyes && .PIH Watches/Warnings/Advisories... Red Flag Warning until 10 PM MDT this evening for IDZ411-413-427. Red Flag Warning until 10 PM MDT this evening for IDZ422-475-476. &&
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID 219 PM MDT THU SEP 1 2016 IDZ017-021-022-012100- LOWER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN ID-SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ID- EASTERN MAGIC VALLEY ID- 219 PM MDT THU SEP 1 2016 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT... AT 219 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11 MILES SOUTH OF LAKE WALCOTT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... SOUTHERN LAKE WALCOTT...COLD WATER REST AREA...IDAHOME... YALE REST AREA AND INTERSTATE 84 AND 86 JUNCTION. LAT...LON 4234 11342 4256 11353 4284 11308 4244 11287 TIME...MOT...LOC 2019Z 240DEG 11KT 4250 11338 RS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID 312 PM MDT THU SEP 1 2016 IDZ020-021-023-012200- CARIBOU HIGHLANDS ID-LOWER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN ID- UPPER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN ID- 312 PM MDT THU SEP 1 2016 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM PROGRESSING ACROSS NORTHWESTERN CARIBOU... SOUTHEASTERN BINGHAM...NORTH CENTRAL BANNOCK AND CENTRAL BONNEVILLE COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM MDT... AT 310 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF FORT HALL LINCOLN CREEK LODGE...OR 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BLACKFOOT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... GOSHEN...BONE...FORT HALL LINCOLN CREEK LODGE... FORT HALL MOUNT PUTNAM... CUTTHROAT TROUT CAMPGROUND AND TRAIL CREEK CAMPGROUND. INDIVIDUALS NEAR THE HENRYS CREEK FIRE ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM AND SHOULD PREPARE FOR IMMINENT DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. && LAT...LON 4294 11216 4313 11231 4345 11189 4307 11157 TIME...MOT...LOC 2110Z 240DEG 20KT 4309 11213 NP/DMH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID 319 PM MDT THU SEP 1 2016 IDZ021>023-012200- CARIBOU HIGHLANDS ID-LOWER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN ID- SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ID- 319 PM MDT THU SEP 1 2016 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM TRACKING THROUGH SOUTHWESTERN BINGHAM...CENTRAL POWER AND NORTHWESTERN BANNOCK COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM MDT... AT 318 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR AMERICAN FALLS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... POCATELLO...AMERICAN FALLS...AMERICAN FALLS RESERVOIR...NEELEY... CHUBBUCK...ABERDEEN...POCATELLO AIRPORT...FORT HALL BUFFALO LODGE... SPRINGFIELD...FORT HALL BANNOCK CREEK LODGE AND STERLING. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && LAT...LON 4264 11276 4276 11298 4315 11266 4292 11230 TIME...MOT...LOC 2118Z 219DEG 21KT 4277 11280 NP/DMH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID 355 PM MDT THU SEP 1 2016 IDZ019>021-023-012245- CARIBOU HIGHLANDS ID-LOWER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN ID- UPPER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN ID-UPPER SNAKE HIGHLANDS ID- 355 PM MDT THU SEP 1 2016 ...THUNDERSTORM CONTINUES TO PROGRESS INTO SOUTHWESTERN TETON...SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON...SOUTHEASTERN MADISON...EAST CENTRAL BINGHAM AND NORTHEASTERN BONNEVILLE COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM MDT... AT 355 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER BONE...OR 12 MILES SOUTH OF RIRIE RESERVOIR...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... SWAN VALLEY...RIRIE RESERVOIR...IRWIN...BONE AND HEISE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FIRE CREWS WORKING NEAR THE BLACK FIRE SHOULD PREPARE FOR STRONG...GUSTY AND ERRATIC THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW WINDS THAT WILL INCREASE FIRE BEHAVIOR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. FIRE CREWS SHOULD MOVE TO SAFETY ZONES IMMEDIATELY. && LAT...LON 4319 11184 4336 11203 4378 11153 4343 11118 TIME...MOT...LOC 2155Z 226DEG 31KT 4336 11181 NP/DMH
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning started the Grape Creek Fire on September 1st and continued into mid | September. The fire grew to 1,580 acres near Elba. The Independence Lake Trail was closed as well as Logger Springs Road. It was considered completely contained on September 9th.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Idaho in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, September 2016
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: 659908.