BOISE, ID — Boise-area residents faced a fast-changing weather threat Thursday afternoon as forecasters posted both a severe thunderstorm watch and warning for parts of southwest Idaho.
The warning covered Boise City, Boise and Nampa, along with nearby communities, and stayed in place until 9 p.m. MDT. Meteorologists said the main concern was damaging wind, with gusts expected to reach as high as 70 mph.
The weather system arrived during the afternoon and kept the region under heightened alert as storms moved through the area.
Damaging gusts drive the warning
The strongest part of the forecast centered on the possibility of sudden, forceful wind bursts that could threaten trees, power lines and other outdoor hazards. A 70 mph gust is strong enough to cause dangerous conditions even without heavy rain or hail mentioned in the alert…