Lightning in Idaho

Events

76

Deaths

4

Injuries

18

Damage

$2.5 million

• Hail and Damaging Winds in Idaho, September 25, 20241 death · $25,000 · 1 in hail · 21 eventsA strong dry cold front pushed through the region on September 25. It generated several thunderstorms over Idaho Panhandle as it passed. The storms brought severe gusty outflow winds from downdrafts. The winds caused damage to trees and roofs.
• Lightning Strike in Idaho, July 7, 20021 death · 2 injured · 1 eventOne man was killed instantly when struck by lightning while moving an aluminum irrigation pipe on an alfalfa farm near Sunnyslope. A second man, standing about four feet away, received serious burns to the head and shoulder.
• Tornado and Hail in Idaho, April 7, 2018$30 million · EF0 · 7 eventsA powerful storm created Funnel clouds, a tornado and extremely large hail the early evening of April 7th. Hail up to two inches in the Idaho Falls area and funnel clouds and a touchdown in Bingham County.
• Lightning Strike in Idaho, July 17, 19961 death · 1 injured · 1 eventAt approximately 3:30 pm MDT, a farm worker was struck and killed by lightning while hoeing beets. His wife was approximately 3 feet from him at the time and was shocked but not seriously injured.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Idaho, August 10, 20101 death · 1.75 in hail · 4 eventsA closed low over the Pacific Northwest pumped very moist and unstable air into portions of north central Idaho, allowing a few strong to severe thunderstorms to develop. Large hail, up to the size of golfballs, and deadly lighting.
• Lightning Strike in Idaho, June 30, 19971 death · 1 eventA farm worker was struck and killed by lightning while working on an irrigation pipe in a farm field during a thunderstorm.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Idaho, July 23, 20143 injured · $2.2 million · 1.25 in hail · 9 eventsA deep trough of low pressure dropped down the Washington Coastline then swung inland into the Inland Northwest during the afternoon of July 23rd. The wave took on a strong negative tilt and moved into a moist and very unstable air mass.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Idaho, July 2, 20221 injured · $800,000 · 1.25 in hail · 12 eventsA severe weather outbreak main affected the Upper Snake River Plain with rrports of greater than 50 knot winds, large hail and lightning strikes.
• Lightning Strike in Idaho, June 17, 1997$1.0 million · 1 eventLightning struck the new LDS Institute on the ISU campus. The fire which resulted caused the roof to collapse and set back construction 3 months.
• Lightning Strike in Idaho, August 10, 2013$200,000 · 1 eventHeavy thunderstorms moved through portions of the Northern Idaho Panhandle during the early morning hours of August 10th. At approximately 0100 PST, lightning struck a house in Althol, ID starting the home on fire.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Idaho, July 1, 2023$53,000 · 1 in hail · 28 eventsA Pacific system brought some severe weather mainly in the Upper Snake River Highlands region.
• Lightning Strike in Idaho, September 17, 2000$150,000 · 1 eventA lightning ignited fire destroyed a school at the Chesterfield historic town site. The 81 year old school , constructed of hand made brick and mortar, housed the historical records of the Chesterfield foundation.
• Lightning Strike in Idaho, June 28, 2017$50,000 · 1 eventA thunderstorm near Coeur D'Alene during the evening of June 28th produced a lightning bolt that struck a house and set it on fire. Quick response by the fire department saved most of the house, but damage to the home was estimated at 50 thousand dollars.
• Flood and Damaging Wind in Idaho, September 7, 1998$30,000 · 55 kt wind · 3 eventsScattered thunderstorms produced heavy rains and isolated wet microbursts in the Boise area. Numerous reports of street flooding were received from around the city.
• Lightning Strike in Idaho, September 30, 19983 injured · 1 eventStruck during football game injuring 3 boys. All hospitalized; one critical. All recovered.
• Lightning Strike in Idaho, June 4, 2007$30,000 · 1 eventA 27 foot sailboat sank near Blackwell Island in Coeur D'Alene after lightning struck the sailboat. An electrical charge from the lightning also traveled up power lines to a home and blew out two TV's and damaged several electrical sockets.
• Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Idaho, August 15, 2024$15,000 · 58 kt wind · 14 eventsSeveral reports of severe weather received.
• Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Idaho, April 11, 2020$17,000 · 56 kt wind · 10 eventsSevere thunderstorms were reported with damage in both Jefferson and Bonneville Counties.
• Hail and Lightning Strike in Idaho, June 12, 2013$20,000 · 1 in hail · 5 eventsSeveral reports of 1 inch hail size occurred in Bannock and Bonneville counties. Lightning damage also reported in Bingham County.
• Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Idaho, July 1, 20251 injured · $5,000 · 53 kt wind · 11 eventsSeveral reports of severe weather events were received on the first day of the month.
• Lightning Strike in Idaho, July 3, 19982 injured · 1 eventOn the evening of July 3rd two men were struck by lightning while fishing in a boat on Deadwood Reservoir. The men, ages 32 and 44 were flown to a hospital in Boise. Both men survived and were released from the hospital by the next day.
• Lightning Strike in Idaho, June 25, 19982 injured · 1 eventA couple of Bureau of Land Management employees were struck by lightning while in a car. They were off from work for at least 5 days following.
• Lightning Strike in Idaho, August 30, 20022 injured · 1 eventTwo workers were installing siding on a garden shed when lightning struck a nearby tree, arcing from the tree to the shed and the workers. Both men were briefly hospitalized.
• Lightning Strike in Idaho, June 29, 20132 injured · 1 eventA moist and unstable environment coupled with weak forcing along a passing upper-level front led to scattered thunderstorms across the Idaho Panhandle during the morning and early afternoon hours on June 29th.
• Lightning Strike in Idaho, July 18, 1999$21,000 · 1 eventLightning struck a lone tree, killing all 15 head of cattle which had gathered about it.

Lightning everywhereEvery kind of event in Idaho

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.