Wind Event 23 April 2020

Overview

An upper level disturbance and associated strong surface cold front moved through southern and eastern Idaho during the early afternoon hours of Thursday, April 23, 2020. Behind the front, strong winds of 50-60 mph blasted across the region at the 700mb level (about 5,000 feet of of the surface) . Skies cleared across the region shortly after 12PM, and this allowed the strong winds aloft to quickly reach the surface. Winds at the surface generally gusted in the 45-55 mph range through the entirety of the Afternoon before diminishing around Sunset. Several accidents occurred on I-86 near the Rainbow Rd exit. Some of these accidents resulted in injuries, and these patients were transported to nearby Hospitals for treatment. A truck hauling fertilizer was among the vehicles involved in the crash, and a HAZMAT crew was deployed to help clean up the spill. Several local agencies banded together to clear the Interstate so that it could be reopened as quickly as it was safe to do so.

Semi Crash I-86 - Fertilizer Spill

Photos & Video
Radar
Storm Reports
Environment

Impacts/Social Media


Social Media Before the Wind Event	Social Media During the Wind Event	I-86 was closed approx 11:45 am to approx 9 pm.	Power County Sheriff - Social Media

Pictures


ITD Twitter of crash area near rainbow road on I-86	ITD Twitter of crash of crash site on I-86 near rainbow road	Arbon Valley webcam looking northwest around 4 pm	Approx 10 acre fire on Hyndman Drive near Hailey

Radar


12:00 - 2:00 pm - Tstms with gusts of 45 to 55 mph and small hail.	2:00 - 4:00 pm -Tstms along line dropping down the Snake River plain. Gusts along line still 45 to 55 mph, especially near Tstms.	4:00 - 6:00 pm Tstms starts to subside. Precipitation coming into the Arbon Valley area starts to slow down strong SW winds and starting to clear up the low visibility due to blowing dust

Storm Reports

NOUS45 KPIH 240222
PNSPIH
IDZ051>075-241422-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
822 PM MDT Thu Apr 23 2020

...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS...

Location                     Speed     Time/Date       Elevation (ft.)     
Big Southern Summit          70 MPH    0100 PM 04/23   7576                 
D4 - Yale                    64 MPH    0445 PM 04/23   4504                 
Minidoka                     56 MPH    0525 PM 04/23   4285                 
D4 - Idahome Interchange     56 MPH    0515 PM 04/23   4444                 
Moburg Canyon                55 MPH    1039 AM 04/23   6570                 
D4 - Juniper Interchange     54 MPH    0345 PM 04/23   5187                 
Minidoka                     54 MPH    0220 PM 04/23   4285                 
Raft River RAWS              53 MPH    0519 PM 04/23   4331                 
Base of Howe Peak            53 MPH    0340 PM 04/23   4899                 
Aberdeen                     53 MPH    0245 PM 04/23   4392                 
Blue Dome                    53 MPH    0245 PM 04/23   5680                 
Pocatello Airport            53 MPH    0157 PM 04/23   4449                 
D6 - Ririe                   53 MPH    0130 PM 04/23   5105                 
Grace                        52 MPH    0433 PM 04/23   6251                 
D6 - Palisades Dam           52 MPH    0230 PM 04/23   5698                 
17 W Aberdeen                50 MPH    0447 PM 04/23   5055                 
Chubbuck                     50 MPH    0345 PM 04/23   4484                 
Howe                         50 MPH    0340 PM 04/23   4814                 
Cotton Ridge                 50 MPH    0709 AM 04/23   7584                 
Fort Hall                    49 MPH    0215 PM 04/23   4452                 
D5 - Big Canyon              48 MPH    0530 PM 04/23   4888                 
D4 - Timmerman Hill          48 MPH    0500 PM 04/23   4907                 
17 W Aberdeen                48 MPH    0247 PM 04/23   5055                 
Potter Butte                 48 MPH    0154 PM 04/23   4930                 
Richfield                    47 MPH    0530 PM 04/23   4314                 
Burley Airport               47 MPH    0446 PM 04/23   4137                 
D6 - Puzzle                  47 MPH    0415 PM 04/23   4949                 
D5 - Sterling                47 MPH    0300 PM 04/23   4478                 
D6 - Monida                  47 MPH    0245 PM 04/23   6732                 

Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers
for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.

&&

$$

DMH

Environment

Insert synoptic summary.


Figure 1: Surface Analysis - Front had moved through most of area by 1:28 pm.	Figure 2: GFS - 700 mb winds - most of these winds mix down to the surface.	Figure 3: 500 mb winds

Near-storm environment summary.


Figure 4: Sounding from Boise at 6 am that morning showing 40 knot winds available to mix down.	Figure 5: CIPS Analogs Max Surface wind gusts >35 kts	Figure 6: Max wind gusts for the event

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