The National Weather Service issued multiple tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings in East Idaho on Wednesday evening as storms brought rain, hail and flooding to Pocatello and other areas.

The weather service said a funnel cloud was reported around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Portneuf Gap area south of Pocatello but it did not touch down. A gustnado, also referred to as a small whirlwind, occurred earlier in the evening in the Mud Lake area northwest of Idaho Falls.

Lightning from one of the thunderstorms ignited a brush fire along South Robin Road between McCammon and Arimo around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office reported. Firefighters spent about two hours extinguishing the field fire, which did not result in any damage to structures, injuries or evacuations.

Authorities said Wednesday night’s storms flooded homes and other buildings, especially in the Pocatello area. But there were no reports of people being injured or structures suffering wind damage in East Idaho, though gusts of over 50 mph occurred in several locations across the region.

The Wednesday evening storms dumped a half-inch to nearly an inch of rain on most of East Idaho. Several streets in the Pocatello and Chubbuck areas experienced flooding and the Center Street underpass in downtown Pocatello was temporarily shut down because much of it was under a foot of water.

The storms that hit Pocatello on Wednesday night also dropped enough hail to make some neighborhoods look like they had received a coating of snow.

The weather service said it issued several severe thunderstorm warnings throughout East Idaho on Wednesday evening and two tornado warnings, both in the Pocatello and Inkom areas.

The tornado warnings were issued around 6:50 p.m. and 7:20 p.m. Wednesday.

The weather service said it does not appear that any tornadoes touched down but anyone with evidence of one should call the weather service’s Pocatello office at 208-233-0834.

Wednesday night's storms were strong enough to knock down trees and branches but the severe weather did not result in any widespread power outages in the region. 

Rain continued to fall on much of East Idaho late Wednesday night through early Thursday morning.

Thursday’s forecast for the region called for isolated rain showers, strong winds and the possibility of more thunderstorms, but beyond that conditions throughout East Idaho are expected to be clear and sunny Friday through Tuesday.