The Rye Grass fire was started by a lightning strike on August 25th and burned 150 acres about 8 miles northeast of the American Falls Reservoir. Spread was stopped quickly.
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The episode as NWS PIH wrote it up.
The Rye Grass fire was started by a lightning strike on August 25th and burned 150 acres about 8 miles northeast of the American Falls Reservoir. Spread was stopped quickly.
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 25, 1:18 PM MST, 2 hours 42 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pocatello ID 218 PM MDT Tue Aug 25 2020 .DISCUSSION... An upper-level shortwave moving through the region continues to serve as the catalyst, along with afternoon heating, for a round of showers and thunderstorms later this afternoon and evening. Hazy conditions from wildfires across the western U.S. did inhibit surface heating a bit this morning but afternoon visible satellite imagery is starting to shows some breaks and this is where we may see sufficient destabilization for tstms later today. SPC maintains a marginal risk for severe weather today with the primary threat being gusty winds. Given the dry conditions over the last few weeks, lightning strikes will be a huge concern for potential wildfire ignition as well thusly red flag warnings remain in place across all of eastern Idaho. Convective activity should begin to diminish as the evening progresses with another round of showers and thunderstorms possible again Wednesday. Coverage likely will not be as great however. Higher elevation PoPs linger into Thursday as well. Moisture begins to decrease a bit Friday and into the weekend with PoPs generally isolated in nature and focused across the eastern Highlands but in all likelihood most of eastern Idaho will remain dry. Temperatures today and through the first half of the weekend will run at or just above climatological norms. Things change as we move into Sunday and early next week as a autumn- like cold front looks to push through the region on Sunday. A significant cooldown is expected behind this front with highs Monday and Tuesday in the upper 60s to lower 70s across the lower elevations with overnight lows dipping into the 40s, 30s across the higher elevations. McKaughan && .AVIATION... Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms will continue into tomorrow. At the moment, we will carry VCTS or VCSH to account for this, with short term updates to include showers or thunderstorms onsite if necessary. Gust winds over 35kts along with a brief downpour are possible. Hail is less likely, but certainly not out of the question. Keyes && .FIRE WEATHER... Isolated showers and storms continue early this afternoon across central and eastern Idaho. We are still facing a struggle due to smoke and/or cloud cover to force scattered coverage. The storm responsible is still moving through and there is some clearing out there, so we aren't going to drop the RED FLAG WARNING. Gusty winds over 40mph are possible along with brief heavy rain. Stronger storms could produce gusts near 60mph and/or hail. Heading into Wednesday, more showers and storms are expected, with similar risks. Coverage looks to be a little lower vs today (IF we realize full potential), so at the moment no RED FLAG WARNINGS are anticipated. We might get close for the central mountains and the northern end of 410, but certainly nothing with great confidence at the moment. Thunderstorm coverage thins out even more Friday with isolated storms mainly over higher elevations. Attention then turns toward the weekend, when we are still looking at a major pattern shift for a bit. A large low drops out of Canada, dragging a cold front through Sunday along with temperatures dropping to 5-15 degrees BELOW AVERAGE behind it. Stronger winds are likely Saturday with MAYBE potential Red Flag conditions in some areas. We will be watching that as things get closer. Keyes && .AIR STAGNATION... Air quality remains variable this week as southwest flow aloft maintains smoke trajectory from CA, NV and OR. Thunderstorm activity today through Thursday could provide some cleansing/wash out of the atmosphere, but those effects would likely be localized, and could fill back in depending on overnight inversion set up. There is no expectation of widespread wholesale improvement until upper trough dives into the region over the weekend, turning upper flow northwest. && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening for IDZ410-411-413- 422-425-427-475-476. &&
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Pocatello ID 423 PM MDT Tue Aug 25 2020 IDZ054-055-252245- Eastern Magic Valley ID-Lower Snake River Plain ID- 423 PM MDT Tue Aug 25 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN BLAINE... NORTHWESTERN BANNOCK...NORTHERN POWER AND SOUTHWESTERN BINGHAM COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM MDT... At 421 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Neeley, moving east at 40 mph. Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... American Falls Reservoir, Aberdeen, Sterling and Pilar Butte. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If on or near American Falls Reservoir, Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on or near the water. Gusty winds and choppy waves are likely. && LAT...LON 4266 11310 4289 11334 4318 11284 4295 11256 TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 256DEG 60KT 4278 11299 ND
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
440 PM MDT TUE AUG 25 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0430 PM TSTM WND GST 18 ENE CAREY 43.40N 113.62W
08/25/2020 M58 MPH BUTTE ID DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
ITD TOMCAT OBSERVATION SYSTEM
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VPRESTONSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Pocatello ID 441 PM MDT Tue Aug 25 2020 IDZ054-058>062-252330- Franklin/Eastern Oneida Region ID-Bear Lake Valley ID- Bear River Range ID-Marsh and Arbon Highlands ID- Blackfoot Mountains ID-Lower Snake River Plain ID- 441 PM MDT Tue Aug 25 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN CARIBOU...NORTHEASTERN ONEIDA...BANNOCK...EAST CENTRAL POWER...NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN... NORTHWESTERN BEAR LAKE AND SOUTHEASTERN BINGHAM COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM MDT... At 440 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 6 miles south of American Falls Reservoir to near Pleasantview. Movement was northeast at 45 mph. Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Pocatello, Soda Springs, Malad, McCammon, Lava Hot Springs, Swanlake, Chesterfield Reservoir, Chubbuck, Grace, Inkom, Downey, Arimo, Thatcher, Fort Hall Bannock Creek Lodge, Fort Hall Putnam Lodge, Portneuf Gap, Fort Hall Mount Putnam, Virginia, Chesterfield and Pocatello Airport. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. 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. These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 4327 11196 4250 11147 4216 11232 4284 11274 TIME...MOT...LOC 2240Z 235DEG 42KT 4284 11273 4225 11232 ND
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Pocatello ID 456 PM MDT Tue Aug 25 2020 IDZ052>055-058-062-252345- Eastern Magic Valley ID-Arco/Mud Lake Desert ID- Upper Snake River Plain ID-Marsh and Arbon Highlands ID- Blackfoot Mountains ID-Lower Snake River Plain ID- 456 PM MDT Tue Aug 25 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN BLAINE... NORTHWESTERN BANNOCK...NORTHEASTERN POWER...WESTERN BONNEVILLE AND WESTERN BINGHAM COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM MDT... At 455 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 12 miles west of Springfield to near Fort Hall Buffalo Lodge. Movement was northeast at 35 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Blackfoot, eastern American Falls Reservoir, Firth, Fort Hall Buffalo Lodge, Rose, Fort Hall Eagle Lodge, Fort Hall Lincoln Creek Lodge, Taber, Fort Hall Townsite, Springfield, Rockford, Moreland, Pingree, Groveland, Sterling and Wapello. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If on or near American Fall Reservoir, Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on or near the water. Gusty winds and choppy waves are likely. && LAT...LON 4349 11252 4323 11201 4292 11259 4311 11304 TIME...MOT...LOC 2255Z 234DEG 31KT 4313 11293 4297 11256 ND
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
458 PM MDT TUE AUG 25 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0440 PM TSTM WND GST 25 W ARCO 43.63N 113.80W
08/25/2020 M50 MPH CUSTER ID OTHER FEDERAL
INL ARL FRD OBSERVATION FROM CRATERS OF THE MOON
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VPRESTONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
500 PM MDT TUE AUG 25 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0451 PM TSTM WND GST POCATELLO AIRPORT 42.92N 112.60W
08/25/2020 M54 MPH POWER ID ASOS
POCATELLO ASOS
&&
VPRESTONThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The Rye Grass fire was started by a lightning strike on August 25th and burned 150 acres about 8 miles northeast of the American Falls Reservoir. Spread was stopped quickly.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Idaho in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, August 2020
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: 916503.