A powerful storm system swept through the Boise area and broader Treasure Valley on Thursday, May 28, 2026, producing a 72 mph wind gust near Kuna, Idaho that meteorologists say ranks among the highest wind speeds ever documented in the region during the month of May. The National Weather Service is still analyzing data from the storm, but early assessments suggest it was a historic weather event for Ada County and surrounding communities.
Storm Conditions Set the Stage for Extreme Winds
The 72 mph gust was recorded at 3:50 p.m. approximately four miles east of Kuna, according to data from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. At Boise Airport, instruments logged a wind gust of 68 mph. Sustained winds across the region ran around 45 mph throughout the afternoon.
Les Colin, a meteorologist with National Weather Service Boise, explained the combination of factors that made Thursday’s storm so intense. An upper-air disturbance originating from Nevada delivered powerful winds at altitude, which helped draw air upward and strengthen developing thunderstorms. Colin noted that very dry air below the cloud layer created ideal conditions for microbursts — sudden, concentrated downdrafts capable of producing extreme surface winds. Afternoon heat further fueled storm development, allowing the system to reach its maximum intensity during the late afternoon hours.
The storm was not limited to Idaho. Further west, a mesonet station in Riley, Oregon recorded a gust of 80 mph. Most severe weather reports filed with the Storm Prediction Center for Thursday originated across Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and included both high winds and hail.
The storm prompted severe thunderstorm warnings for Boise, Nampa, and nearby communities as conditions rapidly deteriorated across the region Thursday evening.
Hail Reported Across the Region
In addition to the damaging winds, hail was reported at multiple locations within the NWS Boise coverage area. A hail report of 1.75 inches — roughly the size of a golf ball — came in from a location about 15 miles east of Burns, Oregon. A separate report logged one-inch hail, comparable to a quarter in diameter, near Council, Idaho.
NWS Boise uses common objects to help the public estimate and report hail sizes, ranging from pea-sized at 0.25 inches to softball-sized at four inches. Any hail exceeding 4.5 inches in diameter would likely represent a record for Idaho or Oregon.
Impact on Ada County Residents
The storm left a visible mark across Ada County and the greater Treasure Valley. The extreme gusts downed trees and damaged power infrastructure, leaving hundreds of Ada County residents without electricity in the hours following the storm’s peak. The rapid onset of severe conditions caught many commuters and residents off guard during the late afternoon hours.
The storm also contributed to fire danger in areas south of the county. The Nichol Fire ignited and burned approximately 380 acres south of Kuna before being contained, a reminder of how quickly dry, wind-driven conditions can turn dangerous for communities on the urban-rural fringe of Ada County.
What Comes Next
National Weather Service meteorologists in Boise are continuing to compile data from Thursday’s event and are asking Idaho and Oregon residents to submit firsthand storm reports. Information they are looking to collect includes damage to trees and power infrastructure, hail larger than a half inch in diameter, and wind gusts of at least 58 mph.
Residents can file a storm report directly through the official NWS Boise storm reporting tool at weather.gov/boi/stormreport. Meteorologists use community-submitted reports to better understand the geographic scope and severity of storm systems as they move through the region.
No additional severe weather watches or warnings were immediately in effect for Ada County following the storm, but Treasure Valley residents are encouraged to monitor NWS Boise forecasts as the region heads into the historically active summer storm season.