Flood in Cassia County, Idaho

A warmup in temperatures caused extensive snow melt to lower elevations of Cassia County with devastating flooding throughout the rural county. Flooding began in earnest on the 5th. Interstate 86 was closed for a 36 mile stretch in the county with flooding over the Raft River bridges. A foot and a half of water was over the interstate and it was closed from the 6th until the 9th. The interstate began to flood on the 5th. Cassia County was declared a state disaster area. Dozens of homes were severely damaged by flood waters. Many private wells and septic systems flooded contaminating many homes. Several back roads had to be closed and many suffered tremendous damage.

A trend toward above normal temperatures in February after extreme snowfall amounts in both December and January led to extensive flooding issues during the entirety of the month. The brunt of the flooding occurred in Cassia, Minidoka, Jefferson, Lincoln and Bingham Counties but all counties did receive at least minor flooding. The floding began February 4th and continued to affect low lying areas until the end of the month and continued into March.