PlainHazard

Idaho high wind and dust storms

Every recorded high wind record since 1996 · 44 counties with a record

NOAA's Storm Events Database records 931 high wind and dust records in Idaho from 1996 through June 30, 2026, about 31 a year since 2000. The deadliest was the January 13, 2021 high wind in Kootenai County: 2 deaths, 1 injury and $5.5 million in damage in 2025 dollars across 2 records. Idaho ranks 40th of 52 states and territories by count and 47th of 51 per square mile.

High wind and dust storms in Idaho, 1996 to 2026

Wind records per year (NOAA Storm Events); 2026 to June 30, 2026.

  • recorded, no damage figure
  • under $1 million
  • $1 million or more
  • $10 million or more
  • $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
  • $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
  • a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
  • a year with a death
Records
9311996 to June 30, 2026
A year since 2000
31average
Deaths
741 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$29Mas filed
Busiest year
202596 records

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; deaths and damage as filed, damage in 2025 dollars. Search the record at NCEI.

Are high wind and dust records common in Idaho?

Idaho averages about 31 high wind and dust records a year since 2000, 40th of 52 states and territories by count. The busiest year on record was 2025 (96). Per 10,000 square miles of land, Idaho records 113 high wind and dust records since 1996, 47th of 51 states and territories by that measure.

  1. 1. Rhode Island 7061
  2. 2. New Jersey 4882
  3. 3. Massachusetts 4776
  4. 4. Delaware 3705
  5. 5. Maryland 1330
  6. 6. Connecticut 1301
  7. 7. Vermont 1178
  8. 8. Hawaii 1067
  9. 9. New York 1028
  10. 10. Wyoming 900
  11. 47. Idaho 113

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1996, per 10,000 square miles of land area (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer; places under 1,000 square miles not ranked). Damage colours: Storm Events damage, 2025 dollars.

Which counties in Idaho have the most high wind and dust records?

Per square mile, Madison County leads Idaho: 109 days with a high wind record since 1996, 232.3 per 1,000 square miles of land. By raw count, Bingham County has the most wind records (200 since 1996); large counties collect more records simply by covering more ground, so the ranking counts days with a record per unit of area (a storm filed for several forecast zones adds several records but one day).

  1. Madison County 232.3 (142)
  2. Jefferson County 112.5 (156)
  3. Teton County 75.7 (40)
  4. Bonneville County 66.5 (172)
  5. Bingham County 61.1 (200)
  6. Bannock County 54.8 (75)
  7. Jerome County 53.6 (40)
  8. Power County 53.4 (115)
  9. Benewah County 52.8 (56)
  10. Kootenai County 51.7 (125)
  11. Butte County 51.4 (158)
  12. Minidoka County 46.2 (39)

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, days with a record in the county since 1996 per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer); in brackets, the count of records.

When is the windy season in Idaho?

Idaho's high wind and dust records by month. The busiest month is March (138 records).

The values, month by month

Jan 46 · Feb 80 · Mar 138 · Apr 128 · May 107 · Jun 48 · Jul 11 · Aug 28 · Sep 47 · Oct 71 · Nov 109 · Dec 118 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began, since 1996.

What were the deadliest high wind and dust records in Idaho?

Idaho: the storms with the most deaths since 1996
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2021-01-13 High WindKootenai County · forecast zone Coeur D'alene Area One storm episode: 2 records; the totals are the episode's. 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. Overall, it took a week to restore power to all who lost it. Due to extensive wind damage and in effort to ... 56 kt wind 2 1 $5.5M
2016-08-03 Strong WindBear Lake County and Franklin County · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains/Iadho Portion A 37 year old woman and her 11 year daughter died in accidents near Fish Haven on Bear Lake. Winds allegedly played a factor in causing flotation devices to drift from shore. Highest recorded wind speeds at the Bear Lake airport near the time of accident were 29 mph. 25 kt wind 2 0 –
2015-11-17 High WindBonner County and 2 more · forecast zone Northern Panhandle One storm episode: 2 records; the totals are the episode's. An intense surface low pressure system moved from west to east along the Southern British Columbia border and dragged a cold front through as well. The resulting high winds brought about substantial damage across North Idaho....and resulted in widespread power outages and is noted as the most damage seen by Avista ... 52 kt wind 1 1 –
2025-12-17 High WindKootenai County · forecast zone Coeur D'alene Area One storm episode: 6 records in 6 places; the totals are the episode's. A strong cold front moved through Idaho Panhandle early morning on December 17. It brought gusts in the range 60 to 72 mph. Numerous of reports of downed trees and powerlines. One fatality was reported in the Fernan Lake Village area from tree falling on house. Other minor structure damage was reported as some trees ... 57 kt wind 1 0 $117K
2016-06-06 Dust StormGooding County and 2 more · forecast zone Western Magic Valley Idaho State Police reported a pile up of four semi trucks, two SUVs and two passenger cars on Interstate 84 near Hazelton due to a dust storm caused by strong thunderstorm winds. One fatality was reported and several people were taken to the hospital. 1 0 –

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths direct and indirect, as filed by the National Weather Service, summed over each storm (one episode, or one named storm filed by several offices). Storm names from the titles of FEMA declarations that name the storm's counties.

The costliest high wind and dust records in Idaho

Idaho: the most damaging storms since 1993, 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2002-04-23 High WindBingham County and 4 more · forecast zone Upper Snake River Plain One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. 58 kt wind 0 0 $7.4M
2021-01-13 High WindKootenai County · forecast zone Coeur D'alene Area One storm episode: 2 records; the totals are the episode's. 56 kt wind 2 1 $5.5M
1999-02-02 High WindKootenai County · forecast zone Coeur D'alene Area One storm episode: 4 records in 4 places; the totals are the episode's. 0 0 $3.5M
2022-04-04 High WindBonner County and 2 more · forecast zone Northern Panhandle 51 kt wind 0 0 $1.0M
2025-12-17 High WindBannock County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Snake River Plain One storm episode: 22 records in 19 places; the totals are the episode's. 66 kt wind 0 0 $993K
2008-07-10 High WindBonner County and 2 more · forecast zone Northern Panhandle 52 kt wind 0 0 $809K
1996-04-24 High WindBenewah County and Latah County · forecast zone Idaho Palouse 0 0 $659K
2016-12-20 High WindLemhi County · forecast zone Eastern Lemhi County 52 kt wind 0 0 $615K

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, in 2025 dollars.

Are high wind and dust records becoming more frequent in Idaho?

Idaho's count per decade against the whole country's, and its share. NOAA recorded every event type only from 1996, so earlier decades are not comparable; the share of the national total is the fairer comparison across decades.

High wind and dust storms: Idaho and the United States by decade (2020s to June 30, 2026)
DecadeIdahoUnited StatesIdaho's share
1996-993514,0260.2%
2000s19637,2540.5%
2010s22741,7480.5%
2020-2647336,3001.3%

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

The most recent high wind and dust records in Idaho

The 12 most recent records, to June 30, 2026
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-26 High WindBingham County and 3 more · forecast zone Arco-Mud Lake Desert 57 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-10 High WindBear Lake County · forecast zone Bear Lake Valley 52 kt wind 0 0 $500
2026-06-10 High WindBonneville County and 3 more · forecast zone Upper Snake River Plain 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-10 High WindBlaine County and 2 more · forecast zone Shoshone-Lava Beds 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-10 High WindButte County and Custer County · forecast zone Lost River Valleys 63 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-10 High WindBonneville County and 2 more · forecast zone Big Hole Mountains 56 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-10 High WindButte County and Clark County · forecast zone Beaverhead-Lemhi Highlands 56 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-10 High WindBingham County and 3 more · forecast zone Arco-Mud Lake Desert 66 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-16 High WindBingham County and 3 more · forecast zone Arco-Mud Lake Desert 52 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-13 High WindAda County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Treasure Valley 53 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-13 High WindAda County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Treasure Valley 56 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-13 High WindGooding County and 2 more · forecast zone Western Magic Valley 51 kt wind 0 0 –

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; the newest months are revised by NCEI as reports arrive. Search the record at NCEI.

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