Damaging Winds and High Wind in Idaho, December 17, 2025

Wind gusts over 60 mph were widespread behind the passage of a strong Pacific cold front. The peak gust of 83 mph was recorded at Coldwater ITD site. Power outages occurred in Burley and Heyburn with multiple trees downed on power lines. Multiple trees uprooted in Paul and trees downed in Burley. Power lines were downed and blocked US Highway 30 nine miles south southwest of Burley.

Widespread 60 to 75 mph wind gusts occurred with a peak of 74 mph measured at the Yale ITD mesonet site on interstate 84. A 70 mph gust was measured near Idahome.

An incredible 91 mph wind gust was measured 4 miles west of Galena at the SVT mesonet site. A 64 mph gust was measured 2 miles southwest of Ketchum and a large tree was uprooted at the Elkhorn golf course in Sun Valley.

Widespread 70 to 80 mph wind gusts occurred in the region with a peak of 80 mph at the INL Puzzle site at the US Highway 20/26 intersection. Both 79 and 76 mph wind gusts measured at Tom Cat Summit. A 75 mph gust was recorded at East Butte.

A 60 mph wind gust was measured at the Bonanza mesonet site 2 miles west southwest of Custer. A 59 mph wind gust was measured 4 miles southwest of Clayton.

A 75 mph wind gust was recorded at Cotton Ridge with 65 and 59 mph gusts recorded at Connor Summit 6 miles southeast of Albion.

Wind gusts 55 to 70 mph were widespread with a peak of 68 mph at Timmerman Hill. A 63 mph wind gust was recorded at the SUN AWOS site. Twelve aspen trees were blown down along Broadford Road 1 mile South of Hailey. Large sections of cottonwood trees were blown down along Lower Bradford Rd 1 mile west southwest of Bellevue. Several trees downed southeast of Hailey in the Wood River Valley. Multiple large trees snaped off or downed with multiple trees downed in Bellevue at the Howard Preserve.

Wind gusts measured were 63 mph at the Challis airport ASOS station, 64 mph at Little Crerek, 64 mph 11 miles west southwest of Challis, and an incredible 87 mph at Willow Creek Summit on US Highway 93.

A 64 mph wind gust measured at the Smiley Creek Airport and a 61 mph wind gust measured at the Stanley ASOS, SNT.

Numerous trees and power lines downed.

Measured wind gusts were 61 mph at Kettle Butte, 60 mph at the IDA Idaho Falle Airport ASOS site, 61 mph 2 miles north northwest of Ozone, 58 mph at Ririe mesonet site on US Highway 26, and 63 mph at Antelope Flats mesonet site on US Highway 26. A section of siding was blown off a residence where a carport also blew over 2 miles east southeast of Idaho Falls. A large tree was blown over onto a single story house with branches falling through the ceiling into a bathroom in Idaho Falls.

An extremely powerful Pacific cold front caused severe damage throughout the lower Snake River Plain. Wind gusts recorded were 76 mph 2 miles northeast of Pingree, 75 mph 2 miles north of Neely, 74 mph in Aberdeen, 72 mph in Fort Hall, 61 mph in Chubbuck, 64 mph at the Pocatello Regional Airport ASOS, 59 mph at Blackfoot and Taber, and 64 mph near Sterling.

Some of the damage reports received were: Several large trees downed in Aberdeen. Aberdeen was the focal point of much damage including over 150 power poles snapped off or downed with irrigation wheel damage. In the American Falls area 21 mature trees downed along Fairview Road and North Pleasant Valley Road. 20 power poles were snapped off 5 miles northwest of American Falls and Povey Road impassable. A large structure damaged on Michaud Road east of American Falls. In Pocatello multiple trees downed and power lines down on Hancock and Fern roads east of Alameda Road closing the roads. Numerous trees and power lines downed throughout the city with fence damages as well in the Pocatello and Chubbuck areas.

A tree was blown onto a pickup truck in Fort Hall. Power outages in parts of Aberdeen and American Falls continued for multiple days with American Falls and Aberdeen schools used as warming centers for those without power.

Wind gusts measured were 74 mph at Howe, 62 mph at Willow Creek Summit, 66 mph at the Sand Dunes mesonet, and 62 mph at Darlington.

A portion of the roof of the LDS Church in Howe was blown off. A large tree at the Little Lost River Church in Howe was downed with two power poles snapped off and there was also damage at the Howe Community Center.

Widespread wind gusts of 50 to 65 mph occurred in the Teton Valley with a peak gust of 61 mph measured 3 miles south southwest of Ashton.

A 59 mph wind gust measured at Palisades dam mesonet site with 58 mph gusts at Moss Avery mesonet and 2 miles south of Conda. Multiple power lines reported down in the Soda Creek area with power outages.

Widespread 50 to 60 mph wind gusts occurred in the region with a peak gust of 59 mph at the Monida Pass mesonet site on interstate 15.

Wind gusts of 74 mph 1 mile east northeast of Richfield were measured. Other gusts were: 66 mph at Kinsey Butte, 59 mph in Shoshone, and 60 mph 5 miles south southeast of Kimama. Two large trees were downed or uprooted in Shoshone.

Extreme winds caused extensive damage in the Marsh and Arbon Highlands. The highest wind gust was 77 mph at Marsh Valley on interstate 15. Other measured gusts were: 62 mph 2 miles southwest of McCammon, 69 mph 2 miles south of McCammon, 68 mph at Topaz on US Highway 30, 56 mph at Swan Canyon, and 58 mph 7 miles south southeast of Pocatello.

A large camper trailer was blown over on it's roof in Lava Hot Springs. A semi was blown over on interstate 15 near exit 31, 4 semi trucks blown over near Marsh Valley High School on interstate 15. All told 19 vehicles were blown or rolled over with most of them semis on interstate 15 in the Arimo to McCammon corridor blocking several lanes of traffic through the afternoon.

Highest wind gusts measured during the storm were: 77 mph at Jensen Pass, 65 mph at Station Canyon, 62 mph at Pleasant View Hill, and 64 mph at Malad City.

Highest wind gusts recorded were: 75 mph at Pole Canyon, 71 mph at Gem Valley, 62 mph at Niter, 58 mph at Chesterfield, 65 mph at Blackfoot River Bridge, and 73 mph at Gray.

A roof was blown off a mobile home in Bancroft. Multiple trees reported downed in Bancroft with roof damage to several homes. Downed power lined and trees reported in Niter. A large tree was downed onto a power line near Thirkill Elementary School in Soda Springs. Power pole damage in Soda Springs with power outages on the west side.

Fifty plus mph winds were widespread in the Raft River region with a peak gust of 69 mph at Holbrook.

Extreme winds occurred in the Bear Lake Valley. The COOP observer in Bern recorded 85 mph gust with 82 mph at Sheep Creek Hills mesonet site and 62 miles at High Line mesonet site 4 miles west of Sharon.

Six trees were reported downed in Skinner Canyon.

Debris was blown into power lines in the Fox creek area resulting in power outages and some damage 3 miles north northeast of Victor. Several wind gusts over 50 mph occurred in the Big Hole Mountains.

A 78 mph wind gust measured along E 300 N near N Meridian Road.

Multiple trees downed and power outage 12 miles west of Minidoka.

Tree downed in Acequia.

Multiple large trees snapped off across Rupert, including a 2 to 3 foot diameter tree down on a house. Several roads were blocked.

Large tree uprooted and power pole downed in Paul.

Trees downed and 2 power poles snapped off along Idaho Highway 25 near Rupert. Power outages throughout the area.

Large pine tree uprooted near the intersection of W 300 S and Idaho Highway 27.

Power pole snapped off along 600 W.

Trees and power lines downed in the area of the Idaho 25 Bridge over the Snake River.

A measured gust of 68 mph occurred southwest of Minidoka with an outhouse and chicken coop blown over. Wheel lines blown away as well.

Interstate 84 eastbound closed between interstate 86 eastbound and mile post 245 due to multiple commercial vehicle rollovers due to thunderstorm winds.

Multiple trees and power lines downed on Pleasant Valley Rd and South Pleasant Valley Rd.

Wires downed and power outages in American Falls.

A semi was blown over on interstate 86 near exit 44.

A 70 mph wind gust measured at intersection of W 700 S and 300 W.

A 76 mph wind gust was measured at the Arbon Valley ITD mesonet site.

A 61 mph wind gust measured by the Pocatello Regional Airport ASOS.

A 58 mph wind gust measured off of 950 S.

Several hundred customers without power in Pocatello due to object on power lines.

Tree downed in Alameda Park.

A large tree was uprooted and a power pole snapped in half with wires down along Riverside Dr in Pocatello and the road was impassable.

Large mature evergreen tree uprooted and blown onto power lines snapping one of them.

A large mature pine tree blown over blocking driveway.

An 83 mph wind gust measured near Howard Mountain at the Idaho Power mesonet site.

A large tree downed blocking a roadway.

A 59 mph wind gust measured at the Karen Road Idaho Power mesonet site.

A 60 foot tree downed on a dog kennel and fence.

A 61 mph wind gust measured along W Pocatello Creek Rd near Nottingham Lane.

Five to 6 power poles snapped off in the area of Edahow Elementary School. Tree limbs and wires downed.

Several hundreds reported without power in the Pocatello area.

A 58 mph wind gust measured at the Paris Peak mesonet site.

A 62 mph wind gust measured at the Juniper Interchange mesonet site.

A 66 mph wind gust was measured at the mesonet station PC506 Sheep Hills Creek.

A 75 mph wind gust measured at the Rocky Point ITD mesonet site.

Mesonet station PC587 North Willow recorded a 59 mph wind gust.

A 64 mph wind gust measured at the PC624 Alpon East mesonet site.