A 1,620 acre fire began via a lightning strike on July 21st and was contained on July 23rd. It was 4 miles southeast of Pauline.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
A 1,620 acre fire began via a lightning strike on July 21st and was contained on July 23rd. It was 4 miles southeast of Pauline. It was mainly fueled by grass and brush and had about 100 personnel fighting it with aerial suppression involved.
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 21, 12:40 AM MST, 11 hours 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pocatello ID 140 AM MDT Wed Jul 21 2021 .SHORT TERM...Today through Friday. Showers and thunderstorms will continue through tomorrow across central and eastern Idaho. Today's focus will be across the South Hills/Albion Mountains north through the Magic Valley and into the central mountains. The monsoon push is still pretty deep, but it does appears to "thin out" a bit today as rainfall amounts are lighter overall. It still looks like portions of the central mountains could see localized amounts over 0.25 inches, with a potential for localized flooding or debris flows. The risk is lower today though vs Tuesday. Gusty winds are possible as well, with maybe a few storms trying to produce hail. There is a risk of strong storms over the central mountains especially as you cross over into Lemhi County and western Montana. Isolated showers and storms are possible overnight as the monsoon push shifts slightly east. For tomorrow, another round of showers and thunderstorms is forecast. The focus will be across the southern and eastern highlands and the eastern side of the central mountains toward Monida Pass. The models are showing a small surge in monsoon moisture, meaning an uptick in rainfall amounts and a corresponding uptick for localized flooding and debris flows. Tomorrow could be another day where the strongest cores produce over 0.50 inches, along with hail and gusty winds. Right now, the Magic Valley, Wood River Valley and Stanley Basin may not see any storms for Thursday. We rapidly dry out heading into the weekend. A few storms remain possible in the southeast corner Friday. Temperatures will begin to slowly creep up as we lose the monsoon moisture. Keyes .LONG TERM...Saturday through Wednesday. The potential for hot weather returns to the area as an area of high pressure builds across the region. Weekend looks dry but highs look to be well into the 90s and possibly near 100 once again. Monsoonal moisture is expected to push into the area early next week bringing somewhat cooler temps and another shot of isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms. 13 && .AVIATION...Expect isolated to scattered thunderstorms once again this afternoon. VCTS is in the forecast at all TAF locations. Conditions look VFR and winds appear to be mainly light. However gusty winds are likely where thunderstorms develop. 13 && .FIRE WEATHER...More showers and thunderstorms are on tap through tomorrow. The focus for this afternoon will be across 427 north through the Magic Valley and into the central mountains. The monsoon is a little less today, but still the potential for wetting rains is there especially over the mountains...with localized amounts over 0.25 possible in the central mountains. The risk of flooding/debris flows is down a bit today, but certainly is still there especially in areas hit harder yesterday. Coverage will be isolated except for the central mountains and along the Montana border west of I-15. We have issued a RED FLAG WARNING for 475 and 476 for this afternoon and evening due to higher coverage of storms and the current fires in those areas. Storms will also be capable of producing winds over 35 mph and MAYBE some small hail. As you get closer to the Montana border, the risk of strong/severe storms increases slightly...meaning higher winds and/or larger hail may occur. For tonight, isolated showers and storms are possible as the focus of the monsoon moisture shifts slightly east. That trend continues tomorrow afternoon, with showers and storms redeveloping...with the focus across Zone 476, 411, 413 the western portions of 427. For the Snake Plain and also Zone 475, isolated storms are expected...with the current trends indicating 422 and 425 may end up with no storms at all. There will be a small surge of monsoon moisture, meaning a better chance of wetting rains in the mountains...and increased risk of heavier rainfall and associated flooding/debris flows. We will likely need another round of RED FLAG WARNINGS tomorrow for that. There is some concern for higher winds OUTSIDE of storms over the central mountains and the Arco Desert, but the combination of low humidity and wind isn't necessarily there for a RED FLAG WARNING. Much drier air works in as we head into the weekend. A few dry storms are possible across the southeast corner Friday. We may see a few pockets of Red Flag conditions Friday due to lower humidity and gusty afternoon winds, but nothing widespread at the moment. Temperatures will begin to climb again over the next few days. Keyes && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning from noon today to 9 PM MDT this evening for IDZ475-476. &&
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
1106 AM MDT WED JUL 21 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1159 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 SE REXBURG 43.81N 111.77W
07/20/2021 M0.70 INCH MADISON ID TRAINED SPOTTER
RAINFALL TOTAL FOR TUESDAY 07-20-2021. NEAR
THE INTERSECTION OF E 7TH ST AND S 4TH ST.
&&
KSMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
1110 AM MDT WED JUL 21 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1159 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 SW TETONIA 43.80N 111.18W
07/20/2021 M0.60 INCH TETON ID PUBLIC
PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. TOTAL FOR TUESDAY
07-20-2021. 0.57 INCHES OF THIS ACCUMULATION
FELL IN 30 MINUTES BETWEEN 509 PM AND 539
PM.
&&
KSMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
1138 AM MDT WED JUL 21 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1159 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 WNW FELT 43.88N 111.20W
07/20/2021 M0.56 INCH TETON ID PUBLIC
PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. TOTAL FOR TUESDAY
07-20-2021, JUST WEST OF FELT.
&&
KSMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
1145 AM MDT WED JUL 21 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1159 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 SE MACKAY 43.89N 113.59W
07/20/2021 M0.26 INCH CUSTER ID PUBLIC
PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. TOTAL FOR TUESDAY
07-20-2021 JUST OFF OF US-93 NEAR SUMMIT DR.
&&
KSMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
1147 AM MDT WED JUL 21 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1159 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 NE DARLINGTON 43.84N 113.38W
07/20/2021 M0.29 INCH BUTTE ID PUBLIC
W 3900 N. TOTAL FOR TUESDAY 07-20-2021.
&&
KSMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POCATELLO ID
1151 AM MDT WED JUL 21 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0215 PM TSTM WND GST 9 N BLACK PINE 42.15N 112.99W
07/20/2021 M53 MPH ONEIDA ID DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
ITD RWIS STATION ITD47 - I-84 JUNIPER
INTERCHANGE.
0414 PM HAIL 3 W GRACE 42.58N 111.79W
07/20/2021 E0.25 INCH CARIBOU ID TRAINED SPOTTER
PEA-SIZED HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN (EST 0.60 IN
IN 15 MIN).
0430 PM HAIL 4 W SODA SPRINGS 42.66N 111.66W
07/20/2021 E0.50 INCH CARIBOU ID PUBLIC
PUBLIC REPORTS HAIL ESTIMATED AT SLIGHTLY
LARGER THAN PEAS AND VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH
MINOR FLOODING ALONG US-30 BETWEEN ALEXANDER
AND THE WESTERN SODA SPRINGS CITY LIMIT.
TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON REPORT AND RADAR.
0442 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 WSW SODA SPRINGS 42.65N 111.61W
07/20/2021 E0.50 INCH CARIBOU ID TRAINED SPOTTER
HEAVY RAIN. APPROXIMATELY 0.50 IN 15 MIN.
0528 PM HAIL 2 NNW TETONIA 43.84N 111.17W
07/20/2021 E0.50 INCH TETON ID PUBLIC
ESTIMATED HALF-INCH HAIL COVERING THE ROAD.
BETWEEN TETONIA AND FELT. TIME ESTIMATED
BASED ON RADAR.
0549 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 NE TETONIA 43.85N 111.13W
07/20/2021 E0.75 INCH TETON ID TRAINED SPOTTER
HEAVY RAIN. ESTIMATING 0.75 IN IN 45 MIN.
1159 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 SE REXBURG 43.81N 111.77W
07/20/2021 M0.70 INCH MADISON ID TRAINED SPOTTER
RAINFALL TOTAL FOR TUESDAY 07-20-2021. NEAR
THE INTERSECTION OF E 7TH ST AND S 4TH ST.
1159 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 SW TETONIA 43.80N 111.18W
07/20/2021 M0.60 INCH TETON ID PUBLIC
PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. TOTAL FOR TUESDAY
07-20-2021. 0.57 INCHES OF THIS ACCUMULATION
FELL IN 30 MINUTES BETWEEN 509 PM AND 539
PM.
1159 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 WNW FELT 43.88N 111.20W
07/20/2021 M0.56 INCH TETON ID PUBLIC
PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. TOTAL FOR TUESDAY
07-20-2021, JUST WEST OF FELT.
1159 PM HEAVY RAIN 6 SSW HENRY 42.82N 111.56W
07/20/2021 M0.46 INCH CARIBOU ID PUBLIC
PRIVATE WEATHER STATION ALONG ID-34 JUST
NORTH OF BLACKFOOT RIVER RD. TOTAL FOR
TUESDAY 07-20-2021. FELL BETWEEN 329 PM AND
449 PM.
1159 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 NE DARLINGTON 43.84N 113.38W
07/20/2021 M0.29 INCH BUTTE ID PUBLIC
W 3900 N. TOTAL FOR TUESDAY 07-20-2021.
1159 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 SE MACKAY 43.89N 113.59W
07/20/2021 M0.26 INCH CUSTER ID PUBLIC
PRIVATE WEATHER STATION. TOTAL FOR TUESDAY
07-20-2021 JUST OFF OF US-93 NEAR SUMMIT DR.
0622 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 ESE CLEMENTSVILLE 43.86N 111.28W
07/21/2021 M0.25 INCH TETON ID CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION TEXI1. LAST 24 HOURS.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN SODA SPRINGS 42.66N 111.59W
07/21/2021 M0.42 INCH CARIBOU ID COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION ID-CR-1. LAST 24 HOURS.
MULTIPLE SPOTTER REPORTS OF HEAVY RAIN AND
BRIEF, MINOR FLOODING IN THE SODA SPRINGS
AREA TUESDAY AFTERNOON FROM THUNDERSTORMS.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 NNW LAVA HOT SPRINGS 42.66N 112.02W
07/21/2021 M0.32 INCH BANNOCK ID COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION ID-BK-26. LAST 24 HOURS.
0715 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 W LAVA HOT SPRINGS 42.63N 112.09W
07/21/2021 M0.35 INCH BANNOCK ID CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION TOPI1. LAST 24 HOURS.
0746 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 NW OVID 42.30N 111.40W
07/21/2021 M0.30 INCH BEAR LAKE ID MESONET
MESONET STATION EW3600. LAST 24 HOURS.
0946 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 NE CHESTERFIELD 42.90N 111.83W
07/21/2021 M0.46 INCH CARIBOU ID MESONET
POLE CANYON RAWS. LAST 24 HOURS.
0950 AM HEAVY RAIN 14 WSW MACKAY 43.81N 113.85W
07/21/2021 M0.63 INCH CUSTER ID MESONET
COPPER BASIN RAWS. LAST 24 HOURS.
1003 AM HEAVY RAIN CHALLIS 44.50N 114.22W
07/21/2021 M0.27 INCH CUSTER ID MESONET
CHALLIS RAWS. LAST 24 HOURS.
&&
KSMITHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
A 1,620 acre fire began via a lightning strike on July 21st and was contained on July 23rd. It was 4 miles southeast of Pauline. It was mainly fueled by grass and brush and had about 100 personnel fighting it with aerial suppression involved.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Idaho in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, July 2021
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: 973904.