A line of severe thunderstorms swept across the Snake River Valley of Eastern Idaho on the afternoon of Feb 14. The widespread effect and destruction wrought by these storms were unprecedented in Idaho; so was the tornadic outbreak as the line spawned five tornados.  The line took on a classic bow echo appearance as it charged east at 50 mph.  A mesonet established throughout the valley recorded an awesome straight line wind of 60 to 95 mph.  A new all time record for highest wind gust in Idaho was recorded at Minidoka at 96.3 mph!  This surpassed the previous wind gust record of 90 mph that occured at Moscow Pullman Airport on 2/8/90.

Hail in BANNOCK, IDAHO
From 14-FEB-00 16:06:00 to 14-FEB-00 16:15:00 (MST)
Location: CHUBBUCK
Magnitude: 1.00 E
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Numerous reports of hail from .75 to 1.00 inches in size.  In Inkom, hail of 1.00 inches was reported to a depth of 6 inches.

Thunderstorm Wind in BINGHAM, IDAHO
From 14-FEB-00 15:30:00 to 14-FEB-00 16:50:00 (MST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 74.4 M
Property damage: 2.5M
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Bingham county sustained by far the most damage from both the straight line wind and the tornadoes.  Wind along I-15 near Blackfoot flipped 3 tractor trailers (1 injury) and forced a Greyhound bus (1 injury) into the median.  Poles for electric lines were downed wholesale.  Loss of power would idle 700 workers from potato processing plants and 350 workers from a flour mill for the remainder of the week.  In Moreland and in Shelley, both the elementary and high schools suffered roof damage.  A trailer home was destroyed and two more tipped over.  Scores of homes suffered minor roof damage.  Dozens of sheds and outbuildings were destroyed or damaged along with an airport hanger.  Innumerable trees, some over 60 years old, were toppled.  Damage to center pivot and wheel line irrigation systems will easily top $1 million dollars alone.

Thunderstorm Wind in BONNEVILLE, IDAHO
From 14-FEB-00 15:55:00 to 14-FEB-00 17:10:00 (MST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 60.2 M
Property damage: 200K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

A warehouse roof was torn off and crushed a car.  Many large trees were downed, closing city streets in Idaho Falls and crushing at least one car.  The vehicle's occupants narrowly escaped injury.  Several large signs were destroyed.  Farms were hit hard with damage to irrigation systems, outbuildings and farm implements.

Thunderstorm Wind in BLAINE, IDAHO
From 14-FEB-00 15:05:00 to 14-FEB-00 15:50:00 (MST)
Location: CAREY
Magnitude: 83 E
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Wheel line irrigations systems damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind in BUTTE, IDAHO
From 14-FEB-00 15:17:00 to 14-FEB-00 16:15:00 (MST)
Location: ARCO BUTTE
Magnitude: 80.8 M
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Thunderstorm Wind in CARIBOU, IDAHO
From 14-FEB-00 16:10:00 to 14-FEB-00 17:10:00 (MST)
Location: BANCROFT
Magnitude: 60 E
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

One wheel line irrigation system damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind in JEFFERSON, IDAHO
From 14-FEB-00 15:50:00 to 14-FEB-00 16:40:00 (MST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 64.1 M
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

One home was damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind in BANNOCK, IDAHO
From 14-FEB-00 15:55:00 to 14-FEB-00 16:40:00 (MST)
Location: MC CAMMON
Magnitude: 51.2 M
Property damage: 40K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Widespread minor damage to houses and fences, along with downed trees, were reported in Chubbuck.

Thunderstorm Wind in MINIDOKA, IDAHO
From 14-FEB-00 14:54:00 to 14-FEB-00 15:30:00 (MST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 83.6 M
Property damage: 80K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Near Rupert, a mesonet station recorded 96.3 mph wind gust, which is a new state wind speed record.  Nearby, a home sustained  roof damage and a its porch was torn off and destroyed.  Three large signs were destroyed, one of which fell on a car.  Several homes sustained minor roof damage.  Several wheel line irrigation systems were damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind in POWER, IDAHO
From 14-FEB-00 15:20:00 to 14-FEB-00 16:30:00 (MST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 60 E
Property damage: 70K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Two homes sustained roof damage.   Ten wheel line irrigations systems were damaged.

Hail in POWER, IDAHO
From 14-FEB-00 16:15:00 to 14-FEB-00 16:30:00 (MST)
Location: ARBON
Magnitude: 1.00 E
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail damage occurred to several vehicles.