Winter weather advisories were issued Sunday afternoon for much of East Idaho as a rainstorm that entered the region Saturday night intensified to include powerful winds and snow.

Multiple wrecks, some involving injuries, were reported in the Bannock County area late Sunday afternoon as the rain shifted to snow and began accumulating on local roads.

The high winds caused several power outages early Sunday evening that left over 1,600 Idaho Power customers in the Pocatello, Fort Hall and Aberdeen areas without any electricity. Idaho Power said that power will be restored to everyone by 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

Up to 3 inches of snow is forecast to fall Sunday afternoon through Sunday night on the Pocatello, Chubbuck, Blackfoot, American Falls, Shelley, Firth, Aberdeen, Fort Hall, Inkom, McCammon, Arimo, Downey and Lava Hot Springs areas.

The Albion, Almo, Malta, Rockland, Arbon and Holbrook areas could receive 3 to 5 inches of snow Sunday afternoon through Sunday night, while the Emigration Summit area could receive 4 to 6 inches of snow.

The higher mountains in Bannock, Oneida and Power counties could receive up to 8 inches of snow from the storm. 

The rest of East Idaho will see a rain-snow mix from the storm with snow accumulations of less than an inch Sunday afternoon through Sunday night.

Winds of up to 65 mph are also occurring as the storm passes through East Idaho.

The weather service is urging motorists to "slow down and use caution" while driving on the region's roads because of the winter weather.

"Plan on slippery road conditions," the weather service advised. "Very strong winds could cause dangerous blowing snow conditions on mountains passes."

Elsewhere in the state, wind advisories calling for gusts of up to 55 mph are in effect in south central and southwest Idaho. 

Multiple winter storm warnings are in effect in Utah because of the storm as well.

Once this storm exits late Sunday night, East Idaho isn't expected to receive any precipitation until a storm brings rain and snow to the region starting late Wednesday night and continuing through Thanksgiving. 

Stay with idahostatejournal.com for the latest weather forecast updates.