High Wind — Western Magic Valley, Idaho

2025-12-17 · Western Magic Valley, Idaho

Event narrative

Automated weather observations across the Western Magic Valley observed winds gusts of 60 to 69 miles per hour during the high wind event. Severe winds lasted for a few hours at multiple sites around the zone, with every observation site in the zone at least above 45 miles per hour. This is consistent with damage reports in the area.

Wider weather episode

Mid-December's synoptic regime was dominated by a potent atmospheric river that caused widespread flooding on the west coast and persistent precipitation in the intermountain west. Forcing was largely provided by a stationary front along the river, with shortwaves in the mid-level flow allowing it to change from warm to cold front every few days as it kept active weather in the area. However, a deep mid-level trough would strengthen on the West Coast, and as it made landfall December 17th and 18th it pushed a surface low of 980 Mean Sea Level Pressure with winds at 700 millibars of near 100 knots. The strong cold front associated with the surface low, strong winds in the low-levels from the Pressure Gradient Force of the low and the atmospheric river, and the persistent moisture supply from the atmospheric river was the perfect environment for severe wind outbreak across southeast Oregon and southwest Idaho.

Unlike typical stratiform winter passages, this event featured embedded convective showers and thunderstorms. This convective element enhanced the transport of high-momentum air to the surface. It was noted that the atmospheric remained fully coupled throughout the event, a very rare occurrence in mid-December. The frontal passage brought winds of near 60 miles per hour across the area, while the morning squall along the front saw winds up to 80 miles per hour, with one ridgeline observation of over 100 miles per hour.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1301585. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.