Several thunderstorm wind gusts in excess of 60 mph were recorded on the afternoon of May 2nd.
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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.
Several thunderstorm wind gusts in excess of 60 mph were recorded on the afternoon of May 2nd.
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 May 2, 2:02 PM MST, 1 hour 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pocatello ID 302 PM MDT Mon May 2 2022 .SHORT TERM (Tonight - Tuesday)... Potent upper level low pressure system remains on track to produce widespread ranging impacts across eastern Idaho over the next 24 hours. Temperatures ahead of the feature are surging into the 60s with ample southerly flow in place. Hi-res models show convective initiation likely over the next few hours across the Magic Valley with activity gradually spreading east through the evening. Convective parameters certainly support a marginal severe threat with enough instability and shear in place over much of the area. Gusty winds and small hail will be the primary threat over the next few hours. After midnight, the thunderstorm threat will diminish quickly but as the low moves overhead, temperatures (and snow levels) plummet quickly and precip will transition to snow for much of the area, even the valleys. As this main organized line of convection heads north up and over the Continental Divide, heavy snow and rapidly deteriorating travel conditions are expected along the Divide and into the central mountains. Winter Weather Advisories remain in place across these zones as current QPF forecasts call for between 0.50 to 1.50 inches inside the Advisory with remaining valley locations seeing between 0.25 to 0.50 inches and mountains between 0.25 to 0.75 inches. Over 8-12+ inches of snow is possible above 8000 feet in the Lemhi Range, Centennials, Lost River Range, and White Cloud Wilderness. Hi-res models continue to show cyclonic flow over all of the area bringing precip into the Magic Valley and Snake Plain around sunrise Tuesday and snow levels will certainly support mostly snow or at a minimum a rain/snow mix. Not expecting much in the way of accumulation outside of grassy/elevated surfaces in all likelihood given warm ground temperatures but some very minor accumulations can't be completely ruled out if snow falls fast enough. As the low continues to push east into Wyoming, we'll likely see yet another round of precip into the afternoon and evening hours Tuesday with higher elevation snow a continued likely and perhaps even into the valleys as seen in a few hi-res models so this will be something to look out for. The situation remains fluid; high confidence in widespread precip but lower confidence in precip type for the valleys of the Snake Plain and Magic Valley. As one would expect with a potent upper low overhead, temperatures are well below normal for daytime highs tomorrow, around 15 degrees below climo. McKaughan .LONG TERM (Wednesday through next Monday)... The beginning of the long-term period begins with high pressure building across southern Idaho, with the ridge breaking down early Thursday. A series of shortwaves will move through Thursday forward as the next low pressure system approaches the west coast and moves onshore early Friday. This will result in several consecutive days of increased moisture over southern ID, with the trough axis passing through on Saturday. Analysis of ensemble clusters indicates that there is some uncertainty in the timing and amplitude of the trough, with increased discrepancy Sunday forward. Precipitation should enter the Central Mtns. by Thursday afternoon and spread across the CWA throughout the early part of Friday. Rain will be the predominant precipitation type before snow levels quickly start to drop and continue to fall throughout Saturday, allowing for snow to mix in and for precip type to change over to snow region-wide for Sunday. However, precipitation could turn more scattered in nature by Sunday. Clusters indicate that ensemble members are struggling to come to a consensus this far out. Time will tell if our CWA is in a favorable position for accumulating snowfall on Sunday. Greatest potential for thunderstorms will be early Friday afternoon and evening and again both Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Thursday and each remaining day in the long term will likely be breezy as the series of disturbances move through, but does not look too impactful at this time. Gusts could reach 30 mph each evening, especially across the Snake River Plain and Magic Valley. Temperatures will be around normal or slightly above through Friday, then drop by more than 10 degree Saturday and remain below normal through early next week. Cropp && .AVIATION... Low pressure system and associated cold front reach the region late this afternoon-early evening. Winds will generally increase until the late night/very early morning hours, at which time winds will taper off. Winds across the Magic Valley should peak shortly before midnight and across the Snake Plain shortly after, with gusts up to 40 mph possible. Isolated thunderstorms will be possible across the region through tomorrow afternoon. Have forecast rain and thunderstorms through late evening, turning to showers throughout much of tomorrow. Snow levels will drop throughout the evening and overnight hours tonight, allowing for snow to start mixing in across the region late tonight. Cropp && .PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Lake Wind Advisory until 9 PM MDT this evening for IDZ054. Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 3 PM MDT Tuesday for IDZ066-067. Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 3 PM MDT Tuesday for IDZ069-071>074. &&
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
348 PM MDT Mon May 2 2022
IDZ051-022215-
Shoshone/Lava Beds ID-
348 PM MDT Mon May 2 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southern Blaine and
central Lincoln Counties through 415 PM MDT...
At 347 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles southeast of Shoshone, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Shoshone, Richfield and Dietrich.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4292 11446 4322 11405 4295 11376 4281 11418
4281 11435 4282 11435 4282 11437 4285 11437
4285 11441
TIME...MOT...LOC 2147Z 227DEG 29KT 4286 11425
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
ECSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
410 PM MDT Mon May 2 2022
IDZ051-055-022245-
Eastern Magic Valley ID-Shoshone/Lava Beds ID-
410 PM MDT Mon May 2 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Lincoln
and central Minidoka Counties through 445 PM MDT...
At 409 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13
miles northeast of Hazelton, or 18 miles northwest of Heyburn, moving
northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Kimama.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4276 11393 4277 11405 4281 11405 4281 11412
4310 11391 4291 11357 4271 11393
TIME...MOT...LOC 2209Z 219DEG 27KT 4276 11399
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
ECThe Pocatello radar (KSFX), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:37 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Mesonet site MIN recorded a 64 mph wind gust 6 miles northwest of Minidoka.
Mesonet site ABE 1 mile northeast of Aberdeen recorded a 65 mph wind gust.
Mesonet site BAS at base of Howe Peak recorded a 62 mph wind gust.
Mesonet site 3699 D6 Puzzle 6 miles northwest of Atomic City recorded a 62 mph wind gust.
A 60 mph wind gust measured at station FW4083 2 miles northwest of Pocatello.
Mesonet site BLK 1 mile east southeast of Blackfoot recorded a 61 mph wind gust.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Idaho in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, May 2022
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: 1033282, 1033260, 1033288, 1033289, 1033240, 1033241.