Lightning began a fire 7 miles north of Clyde near Bell Mountain and Basinger Creek on August 29th. It burned 1,340 acres and was not contained until September.
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 began a fire 7 miles north of Clyde near Bell Mountain and Basinger Creek on August 29th. It burned 1,340 acres and was not contained until September. No structures were threatened.
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 Aug 29, 12:27 PM MST, 2 hours 33 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pocatello ID 127 PM MDT Tue Aug 29 2017 .DISCUSSION...A ridge of high pressure remained over the region early this afternoon while sub-tropical moisture rotated north through the Great Basin ahead of an advancing Pacific trough positioned off the NW coast. Numerical models continue to suggest the break down of the upper ridge Wednesday into Thursday as the Pacific trough moves onshore. Lingering moisture and increasing dynamics will support isolated to scattered thunderstorm development Wednesday afternoon with drier and more stable conditions working from west to east across the area Thursday afternoon. With the advancing trough Thursday will come breezy conditions, particularly within the Snake River Plain. The ridge rebounds across the west Friday and remains through at least Monday providing dry and stable conditions to SE Idaho. The models continue to adjust but we may see some sub-tropical moisture working north around the periphery of the high into SRN Idaho as early as Tuesday or Wednesday which would provide a necessary ingredient for thunderstorm activity. Daytime temps cool some Thursday but then begin to rebound over the weekend with the strengthening ridge. Huston && .AVIATION...Have vicinity showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening at most sites. Coverage should be mainly isolated. Thunderstorm coverage should be much more widespread Wednesday afternoon and evening across central and southeast Idaho and all TAF sites will have a better chance to see convective activity on site. Do not expect strong winds other than near a thunderstorm. VFR conditions should remain through Wednesday with mostly mid level clouds expected. GK && .FIRE WEATHER...Expect isolated thunderstorms this evening mainly across high elevations. Fire weather watches have been issued Wednesday afternoon and evening for zones 475, 476, 422, 425, 427 and 413 for scattered thunderstorms. Activity is expected to become more widespread Wednesday with extensive moisture being pushed into Idaho on southwest flow aloft. Drier air is expected to begin to move into Idaho Thursday with lingering thunderstorms mainly near Wyoming border. Expect hot and dry conditions Friday into the middle of next week. GK && .AIR STAGNATION...Hazy/smokey conditions remained across the central mountains today due to fires within and west of the area. Poor air quality conditions are expected to persist through Wednesday as the region remains under a weakening upper ridge. Some temporary improvement may come with increased thunderstorm activity Wednesday followed by breezy conditions Thursday behind a passing disturbance. Huston && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Fire Weather Watch for scattered thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon and evening for IDZ413-422-425-427-475-476. &&
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
228 PM MDT TUE AUG 29 2017
IDZ025-292115-
Wasatch Mountains/Idaho Portion ID-
228 PM MDT TUE AUG 29 2017
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS NEAR MONTPELIER MOVING EAST TOWARD THE
WYOMING LINE THROUGH 315 PM MDT...
At 225 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a pair of thunderstorms
near Montpelier. Movement was east at 15 mph.
Half inch hail, brief heavy rain and wind gusts to 40 mph are
possible with these storms as they move east toward the Wyoming line
through 315 PM MDT.
Locations impacted include...
Montpelier, Bennington and Geneva Summit.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 4229 11137 4239 11140 4239 11123 4234 11105
4223 11105
TIME...MOT...LOC 2025Z 285DEG 13KT 4234 11123 4234 11132
HustonSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
232 PM MDT TUE AUG 29 2017
IDZ018-020-031-032-292130-
Lost River/Pashimeroi ID-Big and Little Wood River Region ID-
Upper Snake River Plain ID-Sawtooth Mountains ID-
232 PM MDT TUE AUG 29 2017
...THUNDERSTORMS NORTHWEST OF MACKAY MOVING EAST THROUGH 330 PM
MDT...
At 230 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of thunderstorms
extending from 7 miles south of Chilly Barton Flat to 9 miles
southwest of Mackay Reservoir to 13 miles west of Grouse, moving
east at 20 mph.
Small hail, brief moderate rain and wind gusts to 40 mph are
possible with these storms as they move east through the Mackay area
through 330 PM MDT.
Locations impacted include...
Arco, Mackay, Grouse, Mackay Reservoir, Darlington, Chilly Barton
Flat, Moore and Copper Basin Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 4417 11337 4383 11308 4354 11332 4365 11399
4384 11385 4408 11406
TIME...MOT...LOC 2030Z 270DEG 21KT 4398 11392 4384 11380 4372 11389
HustonSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
242 PM MDT TUE AUG 29 2017
IDZ022-292145-
South Central Highlands ID-
242 PM MDT TUE AUG 29 2017
...THUNDERSTORM OVER SOUTHWEST CASSIA COUNTY MOVING NORTHEAST
TOWARD OAKLEY AND CITY OF ROCKS THROUGH 345 PM MDT...
At 238 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles southwest of Oakley Reservoir, moving northeast at 20 mph.
Half inch hail, brief heavy rain and wind gusts to 40 mph are
possible with this storm as it moves northeast toward Oakley and
City of Rocks through 345 PM MDT.
Locations impacted include...
Oakley Reservoir, Almo, Mt Harrison and City Of Rocks.
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 4199 11416 4209 11422 4233 11364 4209 11349
4199 11388
TIME...MOT...LOC 2038Z 245DEG 19KT 4204 11409
HustonSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Pocatello ID 246 PM MDT TUE AUG 29 2017 IDZ022-292130- South Central Highlands ID- 246 PM MDT TUE AUG 29 2017 ...THUNDERSTORM OVER SOUTHEAST CASSIA COUNTY MOVING SOUTHEAST TOWARD STONE THROUGH 330 PM MDT... At 243 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a thunderstorm near Juniper, moving east at 20 mph. Half inch hail, brief heavy rain and wind gusts to 40 mph are possible with this storm as it moves toward Interstate 84 and Stone through 330 PM MDT. Locations impacted include... Stone. 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 4214 11309 4212 11258 4200 11261 4200 11317 TIME...MOT...LOC 2043Z 281DEG 15KT 4205 11301 Huston
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning began a fire 7 miles north of Clyde near Bell Mountain and Basinger Creek on August 29th. It burned 1,340 acres and was not contained until September. No structures were threatened.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Idaho in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, August 2017
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: 718565.