High Wind — Lower Snake River Plain, Idaho

2025-12-17 · Lower Snake River Plain, Idaho

Event narrative

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.

Wider weather episode

A powerful cold front ripped through eastern Idaho on the 17th and included severe thunderstorms along the front and extremely high non thunderstorm winds in the cold sector post cold frontal passage throughout the day. Extensive damage was reported throughout the region.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1309556. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.