Several weather-related power outages were reported on Tuesday. 

Rocky Mountain Power spokesman Paul Murphy said a combination of winds, dust and rain led to several pole fires in their coverage area, and damaged equipment. 

Power outages were reported in Idaho Falls, Firth, Hamer and Malad, where a pole was knocked down, and Rexburg, where a pole started on fire, Murphy said. A total of more than 1,600 customers were impacted in the various outages, but the longest outages only lasted about two hours. 

A two-vehicle crash was also reported in the area of Fredregill and Fourth during Tuesday night’s rainstorm, but Pocatello police weren’t able to say if the wreck was weather related as the investigation was ongoing. No one was injured in that incident. 

National Weather Service officials issued a severe thunderstorm watch for much of southeast Idaho on Tuesday, as well as a wind advisory for the upper and lower Snake River Plains, including the cities of Pocatello, Blackfoot, American Falls, Burley, Fort Hall and Idaho Falls. The advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Mike Huston, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service forecast office in Pocatello, said wind gusts between 50 and 68 miles per hour were reported throughout the area on Tuesday. 

Winds were expected to decrease overnight and then to increase once again Wednesday morning. 

In fact, sustained winds of 30-40 miles-per-hour, with gusts of up to 50 mph,  are anticipated today.

In addition to the wind, a strong cold front could bring isolated thunderstorms to our area. The storms that develop could even be strong enough to produce hail. The windy, cooler weather is expected to continue through Wednesday with a similar storm system expected to move into the area on Friday.