High Wind in Coeur D'alene Area, Idaho

Broadcast media reported that a motorist drove off the side of an embankment after the tree struck his truck on Highway 97, near Lake Coeur d'Alene. The motorist succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

A strong cold front moved through northern Idaho on the morning of January 13th. With this front, severe winds swept through the Idaho Panhandle bringing widespread damage, fallen trees, and power outages. In Kootenai and Shoshone counties, widespread gusts of 60 to 70 mph winds were observed. Winds were not as strong through the remainder of the Panhandle counties, but they still created power outages, downed trees, and wind damage. Numerous school districts cancelled school due to lack of power. Overall, it took a week to restore power to all who lost it.

Due to extensive wind damage and in effort to receive state funding for help with clean up, Kootenai County Board of County Commissioners signed a disaster declaration.