Thunderstorms Knock Out Power to Thousands Across Treasure Valley Near Nampa
Powerful thunderstorms swept through the Treasure Valley on Thursday afternoon, triggering widespread power outages that left thousands of Idaho Power customers without electricity across southwest Idaho, including areas near Nampa, Boise, and Meridian.
Storms Trigger Dozens of Outage Reports
The outages began rolling in during the afternoon hours as strong storms moved through the region, prompting crews to respond to dozens of separate reports. By 5:30 p.m. Thursday, the largest single outage on record for the day had struck Boise’s 83702 ZIP code, where an estimated 2,713 customers lost power shortly after 4:00 p.m. A second major outage hit Meridian roughly 15 minutes later, cutting electricity to approximately 1,981 customers across two ZIP codes — 83642 and 83646.
The storms brought heavy winds and lightning across much of the Treasure Valley, battering the region’s electrical infrastructure and stretching utility crews thin as multiple incidents unfolded simultaneously.
Idaho Power acknowledged the scope of the disruptions in a public statement, noting the company was “aware of multiple weather-related outages in parts of our service area.” The utility added that estimated restoration times were not yet available for most affected areas, with timelines to be provided once crews could reach outage sites and assess the damage firsthand. The company thanked customers for their patience.
Impact on Canyon County Residents and the Broader Region
For Canyon County families in Nampa and surrounding communities, power outages during warm late-spring evenings carry real consequences — from spoiled groceries and disrupted home routines to concerns for elderly residents and those dependent on powered medical equipment. Businesses and event organizers were also caught off guard by the sudden loss of power. A local Greek church facing an outage found its freezers full of food with a festival scheduled for the following day, prompting organizers to scramble for generators to prevent spoilage overnight.
The storms also sparked brush fires in neighboring Payette County, where flames broke out Thursday along the Interstate 84 corridor and near Sand Hollow Road. Evacuations were ordered for some areas before firefighters contained the blazes by evening. Officials confirmed no structures were damaged and all evacuation orders were lifted.
Southwest Idaho has seen its share of severe weather events in recent seasons, and Thursday’s storms served as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability to rapid-onset weather systems that can knock out power across wide geographic areas in a matter of minutes. For full statewide coverage of infrastructure and weather-related developments, visit Idaho News.
What Comes Next
Weather conditions were expected to calm significantly by Friday, with forecasters calling for a quieter pattern to settle over southwest Idaho following Thursday’s turbulent afternoon and evening. Idaho Power crews were working to restore electricity to affected customers, with restoration timelines tied to the extent of infrastructure damage discovered once crews reached affected areas.
Residents who remain without power or who need to report an outage are encouraged to contact Idaho Power directly through the utility’s outage reporting system. Canyon County homeowners are also advised to check on neighbors — particularly elderly residents and families with young children — during extended outages, especially as temperatures remain active in the late spring period.
Officials have not released a full damage assessment or a complete customer-by-customer restoration timeline as of Thursday evening, but crews were actively working across the affected service area.