On May 25th, height falls ahead of an incoming trough and surface heating allowed for weak instability to build in across southwest Idaho. Strong south-southwesterly winds ahead of an incoming cold front allowed for a hot, well-mixed boundary layer and subsequent inverted-V temperature profiles.
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 BOI wrote it up.
On May 25th, height falls ahead of an incoming trough and surface heating allowed for weak instability to build in across southwest Idaho. Strong south-southwesterly winds ahead of an incoming cold front allowed for a hot, well-mixed boundary layer and subsequent inverted-V temperature profiles. Shear was weak but sufficient to support a multicell with a damaging wind threat. Severe winds resulting in numerous trees down across the area.
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 Boise, ID wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 25, 1:41 PM MST, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Boise ID 241 PM MDT Mon May 25 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Gusty winds today, resulting in critical fire weather conditions in southeastern Oregon. - Scattered showers/thunderstorms in Idaho today with outflow gusts as strong as 60 mph and blowing dust. - Much cooler Tuesday through the rest of the week as precipitation continues. && .SHORT TERM /Through Wednesday Night/... Warm today with high temps 10-15 degrees above normal. A strong cold front will pass through eastern Oregon tonight and western Idaho tomorrow morning. Ahead of the cold front, high based showers and thunderstorms are developing in SW Idaho highlands and in Central Idaho Mountains. These storms are capable of producing outflows 40-60 mph in an environment with 1000 J/kg of DCAPE. Also ahead of the front, winds across the area are increasing. In SE Oregon, sustained winds of 20-30 mph and gusts up to 40 mph with dry conditions have prompted the issuance of a Red Flag Warning. Winds in SW Idaho will be slightly lower, 10-20 mph sustained and gusts up to 30 mph outside of thunderstorms. Winds will also kick up blowing dust, locally reducing visibility and air quality. While storms today are high based and dry, tonight and tomorrow behind the front precipitation chances increase and temperatures drop down to near normal. Scattered showers continue over the region through Wednesday, with storm total rainfall amounts around 0.25 inches for much of the area, lower in the Snake Plain and higher over mountains. Thunderstorms are possible each afternoon/evening with gusty winds and heavier rainfall rates. && .LONG TERM /Thursday through Monday/... An active weather pattern will continue through most of the long-term period, as the upper low lingering over the Great Basin will continue widespread showers and thunderstorms Thursday through Saturday. Temperatures will mostly hover near or slightly below normal through the end of the week. An upper trough will slowly steer into the northwest region from off the coast of British Columbia over the weekend. There is strong guidance agreement that this larger system will swallow the low over the Great Basin and steer it as a shortwave trough over our area. This pattern will likely continue widespread showers and thunderstorms on Saturday. Sunday will likely see showers/thunderstorms over higher terrain as this merged system moves out, before a broad ridge builds in and returns warmer and drier conditions early next week. && .AVIATION /18Z Monday through Tuesday/... Issued 1127 AM MDT MON MAY 25 2026 Generally VFR. Scattered thunderstorms over SW ID and E-central OR this afternoon/evening. Thunderstorms capable of 30-50 kt outflows and blowing dust. Showers increasing across eastern OR early Tue/AM, with ceilings lowering to MVFR near KBKE/KBNO. Surface winds outside of storms: SE-SW 10-20 kt with afternoon gusts to 15-35 kt, with strongest winds over eastern OR. A cold front tonight will switch winds to W-NW 10-20 kt with gusts 30-40 kt, strongest near KBKE/KONO. Winds aloft at 10kft MSL: S-SW 10-25 kt. KBOI...VFR. A 30% chance of thunderstorms affecting the terminal this afternoon from 20Z to Tue/00Z. Thunderstorms will be capable of outflows to 30-50 kt, lightning, and blowing dust. Surface winds outside of storms: SE-S 8-12 kt with gusts up to 20 kt this afternoon, becoming NW 10-15 kt tonight following a cold front. && .FIRE WEATHER... Above normal temperatures, minimum RH 10-15%, and gusty winds 30-45 mph have prompted the issuance of a Red Flag Warning in Southeast Oregon this afternoon and evening. A cold front, expected late tonight, will bring gusty pre-frontal southwest winds within the already warm and dry environment. Scattered thunderstorms in southwest Idaho this afternoon and evening will bring lightning and outflow wind gusts as strong as 60 mph. Morning RH will be substantially higher Wednesday through next Sunday, and there will be a 30-40% chance of wetting rain each day as the main low pressure system aloft remains right over the district. && .BOI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ID...None. OR...Red Flag Warning until 8 PM PDT this evening for ORZ670-672. && www.weather.gov/Boise Interact with us via social media: www.facebook.com/NWSBoise www.x.com/NWSBoise SHORT TERM...JM LONG TERM....JY AVIATION.....JY
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boise ID
253 PM MDT Mon May 25 2026
IDZ014-015-029-252145-
Upper Treasure Valley ID-Southwest Highlands ID-Owyhee Mountains ID-
253 PM MDT Mon May 25 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN ELMORE AND SOUTHERN
OWYHEE COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM MDT...
At 253 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near The Hat, or 43 miles north of Owyhee, moving
northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Areas of blowing dust reducing
visibility. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Grand View, Silver City, Bruneau, Star Ranch, Turner Butte, Cliffs,
Hinton Reservoir, Triangle, Bybee Reservoir, Toy Pass, Black Warrior
Mountain, Dollar Butte, The Hat, Mud Flat Spring, Oreana, Crab Spring
Butte, Chalk Hills, Spencer Butte, Brace Ranch, and Indian Meadows.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4246 11703 4255 11703 4312 11679 4311 11658
4304 11651 4310 11650 4309 11624 4288 11538
4219 11627
TIME...MOT...LOC 2053Z 208DEG 20KT 4257 11615
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
JMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boise ID
307 PM MDT Mon May 25 2026
IDZ011-013-252145-
West Central Mountains ID-Boise Mountains ID-
307 PM MDT Mon May 25 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL BOISE AND SOUTH
CENTRAL VALLEY COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM MDT...
At 306 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Scott Mountain, or 7 miles northwest of Lowman, moving north at 25
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Areas of blowing dust reducing
visibility.
Locations impacted include...
Deadwood Reservoir, Silver Creek Work Center, Clear Creek Summit,
Monumental Peak, Scott Mountain, and Deer Creek Pass.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4408 11552 4412 11582 4456 11579 4451 11533
TIME...MOT...LOC 2106Z 189DEG 21KT 4419 11568
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
JYSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boise ID
311 PM MDT Mon May 25 2026
IDZ012>014-029-252145-
Upper Treasure Valley ID-Lower Treasure Valley ID-Boise Mountains ID-
Owyhee Mountains ID-
311 PM MDT Mon May 25 2026
...GUST FRONT WILL IMPACT ADA...SOUTHWESTERN BOISE...WEST CENTRAL
ELMORE AND WEST CENTRAL OWYHEE COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM MDT...
At 311 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a gust front along a line
extending from 8 miles west of Danskin Peak to near Grand View.
Movement was west at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Areas of blowing dust possible.
Locations impacted include...
Eastern Boise, Kuna, Grand View, Swan Falls, Blacks Creek Reservoir,
Aldape Summit, Big Foot Butte, Lucky Peak Reservoir, Cinder Cone
Butte, Lucky Peak Spring Shores Marina, Lucky Peak Dam, Oreana, Boise
Stage Stop, and Arrowrock Reservoir.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4299 11646 4304 11650 4299 11651 4300 11667
4371 11612 4345 11568 4296 11610
TIME...MOT...LOC 2111Z 104DEG 23KT 4341 11583 4302 11615
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JYSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boise ID
324 PM MDT Mon May 25 2026
IDZ012-014-029-252200-
Upper Treasure Valley ID-Lower Treasure Valley ID-
Owyhee Mountains ID-
324 PM MDT Mon May 25 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL ADA...SOUTHEASTERN
CANYON AND NORTHWESTERN OWYHEE COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM MDT...
At 324 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms over Murphy, or 25 miles south of Nampa, moving
northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Areas of blowing dust reducing
visibility.
Locations impacted include...
Nampa, Caldwell, Kuna, Melba, Murphy, Givens Hot Springs, Initial
Point, Lake Lowell, Guffey, and Walters Ferry.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4311 11658 4330 11687 4368 11673 4343 11634
TIME...MOT...LOC 2124Z 229DEG 34KT 4322 11658
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
JYPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boise ID
325 PM MDT Mon May 25 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0255 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 ESE Wendell 42.77N 114.65W
05/25/2026 M61 MPH Gooding ID Mesonet
Mesonet station DVI11593 Wendell.
0202 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 7 SE Hot Springs 42.73N 115.61W
05/25/2026 M55 MPH Owyhee ID Mesonet
Mesonet station TT087 Saylor Creek.
0242 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 19 ESE Riddle 42.07N 115.79W
05/25/2026 M49 MPH Owyhee ID Mesonet
Mesonet station PCKI1 Pole Creek.
0255 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 17 WSW Hagerman 42.69N 115.20W
05/25/2026 M48 MPH Owyhee ID Mesonet
Mesonet station TWBI1 Twin Buttes.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boise ID
331 PM MDT Mon May 25 2026
IDZ013-014-252215-
Upper Treasure Valley ID-Boise Mountains ID-
331 PM MDT Mon May 25 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN ELMORE AND CENTRAL
OWYHEE COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM MDT...
At 330 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
C J Strike Reservoir, or 15 miles southwest of Mountain Home, moving
northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Areas of blowing dust reducing
visibility.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Mountain Home Air Force Base and C J Strike Reservoir around 340
PM MDT.
Mountain Home around 350 PM MDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4273 11565 4290 11614 4334 11577 4311 11529
TIME...MOT...LOC 2130Z 207DEG 27KT 4296 11591
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
JDSThe Boise radar (KCBX), 19 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:09 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Public reported a tree branch broken off. Photo suggests the large branch was broken off where it connects to the trunk. Based on nearby reports, it is reasonable to assume this damage was associated with a thunderstorm gust of at least 58 mph.
Public report of heavy roof damage to a cargo facility located on the airport. The report was later confirmed by an FAA official and photos showing portions of the roof blown off by a thunderstorm gust. Gusts estimated to be at least 60 mph.
At 328pm MST, the Crestline RAWS reported a thunderstorm wind gust of 59 mph.
At 410pm MST, Idaho Power mesonet station W2T19 recorded a wind gust of 58 mph.
At 440pm MST, Idaho Power mesonet station W2T2 recorded a 60 mph wind gust.
At 458pm MST, Idaho Power mesonet station W3T8 measured a 60 mph wind gust.
At 540pm MST, Idaho Power mesonet station W3T7 measured a 58 mph wind gust.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Idaho in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, May 2026
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: 1328099, 1328100, 1328102, 1328104, 1328112, 1328114, 1328119.