Flash flood watch issued as heavy rain targets eastern Idaho
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IDAHO FALLS — Moderate to heavy rain is expected throughout eastern Idaho Thursday and Friday, which could result in localized flash flooding in some areas.
That’s the latest forecast from the National Weather Service in Pocatello. In a Wednesday afternoon email, the agency says “an abnormally moist airmass” moving through the area will result in cooler temperatures, along with showers and thunderstorms. Rain is likely to begin on Thursday and continue through the weekend.
Over the next two days, meteorologists are forecasting daytime temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s.
Rain is most likely in the Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello areas, where a flash flood watch is in effect, according to the NWS website. Recently burned areas are also subject to showers.
“The Big Rock burn scar east of Idaho Falls and the Double Springs burn scar near Mount Bora are particularly sensitive to flash flooding or debris flows on Thursday and Friday,” the NWS reports.
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Other areas, like the Ohio burn scar south of Ketchum, and the Wapiti burn scar north and west of Stanley, also have a high chance of rain or flash flooding.
Anyone living in these areas is urged to be prepared for potential downpours and debris flows.
“Outside of the burn scar areas, any thunderstorms that develop are expected to be efficient rain producers with rain rates approaching 1-inch per hour,” forecasters say. “Any slow-moving or training thunderstorms could quickly inundate an area, leading to localized flooding.”
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This is the fourth flash flood watch in eastern Idaho in the last month. A similar event happened in areas near the Wyoming border on July 21. On July 16, flash flooding happened in a concentrated area of Pocatello. Multiple slow-moving storms resulted in several inches of rain near South 5th Avenue. The following day, the Pocatello bureau issued another flash flood watch for the Driggs area.
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In addition to showers, the Pocatello bureau says in a Wednesday night Facebook post that wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph are possible. Rock or mud slides could occur in some areas as well.
“Anyone (traveling through the area) should be ready for quickly changing weather conditions and be prepared to make adjustments if necessary,” reports the NWS in Pocatello.
EastIdahoNews.com will provide weather updates as we receive them. For the latest conditions and a complete seven-day forecast in your area, click here.
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