High Wind in Upper Snake Highlands, Idaho

One week after a heavy snowstorm, the same area in southeastern Idaho was hit by a windstorm. The passage of a strong cold front created the winds on April 23rd. Sustained winds on the 23rd were between 40 and 50 mph with gusts reaching 60 to 70 mph throughout the afternoon covering the entire Snake River Plain from Minidoka northeast through Pocatello, Craters of the Moon, Blackfoot, Idaho Falls to Rexburg. The winds also did damage in the Upper Snake Highlands as well. 10,000 residents lost power in Blackfoot, Pocatello, and Chubbuck. The winds created poor visibility and blowing dust and closed roads. Interstate 15 was closed from Idaho Falls to Roberts. US Highway 20 was closed from Arco to the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. State Highway 26 was closed and Jefferson county closed schools. The wind did extensive damage to homes downing trees and large limbs as well as power lines throughout southeastern Idaho. Damage from the wind storm was estimated at around 4.5 million across the region.