- Strong winds in eastern Idaho caused road closures and property damage Thursday.
- Wind gusts reach 70-80 mph in Rigby; 850 lost power in Idaho Falls.
- I-15 was closed due to low visibility; winds are expected to return Saturday.
IDAHO FALLS — Property damage and road closures were reported across eastern Idaho Thursday afternoon amid 60 mph wind gusts.
A high wind watch was in effect until 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Pocatello. Meteorologist Jack Messick says peak wind gusts on Thursday afternoon could get up to 60 mph. Reported wind speeds throughout the Snake River Plain were around 50 mph. On the buttes north of Rigby, he says there were reports of wind gusts as high as 70 and 80 mph.
"Those winds are not likely to reach ground level in the rest of the Snake River Plain," Messick said.
Idaho Falls Power spokeswoman Sarah Wheeler tells EastIdahoNews.com that about 850 customers in the Tautphaus Park area were without power after a tree fell onto a power line.
EastIdahoNews.com received multiple reports about downed trees causing damage to homes and property.
Messick says blowing dust in the Mud Lake and Roberts area makes driving conditions dangerous.
"Any place from Roberts northward on I-15 and beyond Hamer is a place to really watch out for," he says.
Winds are expected to die down on Friday but will return with a vengeance on Saturday. Messick says the east winds are expected to shift over the next 48 hours, bringing colder temperatures throughout eastern Idaho.
EastIdahoNews.com will continue to monitor weather conditions and provide updates as they become available.
The latest road conditions and closures are available on ITD's Idaho 511 website. Live traffic cams and a complete seven-day forecast in your area are available here.
