Severe thunderstorms reported on July 23rd.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
Severe thunderstorms reported on July 23rd.
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 23, 12:52 PM MST, 3 hours 1 minute earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pocatello ID 152 PM MDT Thu Jul 23 2020 .DISCUSSION...A weak cold front will work into the area tonight. Strong thunderstorms are possible just ahead of the front for the remainder of the afternoon and into the evening with gusty winds as the primary threat. Much of the activity will diminish after sunset. Residual moisture lingers across the region Friday into Saturday with high country thunderstorms possible during the afternoon each day. Drier weather arrives for Sunday. But another push of moisture arrives early next week bringing more thunderstorms to the region. 13 && .AVIATION...Vicinity thunderstorms are in all TAF locations into the evening although the better chances are around BYI and SUN, closer to the front. Expect thunderstorms to diminish overnight. Ceilings are likely to remain vfr except under thunderstorms. 13 && .FIRE WEATHER...Still looks like a good chance of Scattered to Numerous showers and thunderstorms over the Central mountains through this evening impacting mostly 475 and northern portions of 476 and 422. This is due to increased monsoon moisture as well as instability from an approaching boundary/front. Since 422 looks to be impacted mainly to the north of Sun Valley in elevations above 6000 ft, have held off on a Red Flag. Expect isolated thunderstorm coverage in most of zone 422 below 6000 ft. Thunderstorms outside the Central mountains are difficult to pin down due to model inconsistency. There is some model consensus of a line of thunderstorms developing outside of the Central mountains from Malad to Mackay. This would support some scattered convection. However, not all models show this line. Also, there is potential for more rain in storms than yesterday. So showers and thunderstorms should be more wet in nature than dry as precipitable water values have risen. Storms today in the Central mountains and lower elevations across our western areas (mainly 425) do have potential be gusty, up to around 40 to 55 mph as well as produce hail. The clearer skies today across our southwest areas will help support convective activity as well this afternoon into early evening. Models continue show less convective activity Friday. However, they do show isolated coverage mainly in our Southwest, generally south of Burley/ Pocatello and the Island Park area. Saturday there again will be a slight chance, though a lesser chance than Friday, of thunderstorms over mainly our eastern mountain areas. Late Saturday into Sunday expect overall drier conditions with a westerly breezy flow. Storm chances pick back next week by Monday afternoon as the flow returns to southwest versus west, and we pick up some more monsoon moisture within the pattern. Wyatt && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... &&
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
128 PM MDT Thu Jul 23 2020
IDZ069-070-232000-
Challis/Pahsimeroi Valleys ID-Lost River Range ID-
128 PM MDT Thu Jul 23 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL CUSTER COUNTY UNTIL
200 PM MDT...
At 127 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Challis, moving northeast at 25 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Challis.
LAT...LON 4471 11405 4469 11405 4469 11404 4465 11402
4465 11401 4464 11401 4461 11397 4457 11392
4454 11387 4440 11417 4453 11433 4473 11407
TIME...MOT...LOC 1927Z 230DEG 22KT 4452 11418
ValleSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Pocatello ID 314 PM MDT Thu Jul 23 2020 IDZ054-232215- Lower Snake River Plain ID- 314 PM MDT Thu Jul 23 2020 ...Thunderstorms near American Falls Reservoir... At 313 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking thunderstorms near American Falls, moving northeast at 15 mph. Winds in excess of 30 mph and occasional lightning will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... American Falls Reservoir. 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 4275 11280 4280 11292 4308 11271 4297 11256 TIME...MOT...LOC 2113Z 213DEG 13KT 4282 11276 Valle
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
358 PM MDT Thu Jul 23 2020
IDZ053-054-058-062-232245-
Upper Snake River Plain ID-Marsh and Arbon Highlands ID-
Blackfoot Mountains ID-Lower Snake River Plain ID-
358 PM MDT Thu Jul 23 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM IS MOVING THROUGH CENTRAL BONNEVILLE AND
EAST CENTRAL BINGHAM COUNTIES...
At 357 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Fort Hall Lincoln Creek Lodge, or 8 miles southwest of Goshen, moving
northeast at 20 mph.
Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Goshen, Ammon, Bone, Fort Hall Lincoln Creek Lodge, Basalt and
Wapello.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm 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 4312 11217 4322 11229 4347 11196 4341 11178
4329 11174
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 233DEG 18KT 4321 11215
TAXSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
413 PM MDT Thu Jul 23 2020
IDZ054-055-057-058-232315-
Eastern Magic Valley ID-Marsh and Arbon Highlands ID-
Raft River Region ID-Lower Snake River Plain ID-
413 PM MDT Thu Jul 23 2020
...ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE OVER AMERICAN FALLS
RESERVOIR CAUSING HAZARDOUS BOATING CONDITIONS...
At 410 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
American Falls, moving northeast at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
American Falls, Neeley, American Falls Reservoir, Aberdeen, Pocatello
Airport and Sterling.
Boaters can expect a sudden increase in waves and very choppy waters
which will result in hazardous boating conditions. Boaters are urged
to seek safe harbor if possible.
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.
Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until
this storm passes.
&&
LAT...LON 4270 11285 4275 11297 4308 11277 4305 11263
4296 11250
TIME...MOT...LOC 2210Z 209DEG 15KT 4277 11285
TAXSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
430 PM MDT Thu Jul 23 2020
IDZ072-232315-
Sawtooth/Stanley Basin ID-
430 PM MDT Thu Jul 23 2020
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAIN NEAR STANLEY...
At 428 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles southwest of Stanley, moving northeast at 15 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Stanley and Redfish Lake.
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.
Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until
this storm passes.
&&
LAT...LON 4441 11500 4424 11470 4402 11503 4403 11505
4406 11505 4408 11502 4409 11500 4410 11500
4410 11502 4412 11505 4415 11502 4416 11503
4416 11506 4418 11508 4417 11511 4420 11516
TIME...MOT...LOC 2228Z 209DEG 14KT 4408 11508
TAXThe Pocatello radar (KSFX), 109 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:51 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Two trees were downed at a Burley area golf course.
A tree was downed at a residence causing some shingle damage.
A 68 mph wind gust measured at the Richfield mesonet site.
Several trees were reported down in the town of Bellevue. Occurred on 5th and 8th Streets as well as Tendoy Street just north of Bellevue.
A 60 mph wind gust measured at the KSUN Hailey Airport.
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, July 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: 916431, 916429, 916428, 916435, 916433.