A line of severe thunderstorms packing wind gusts up to 70 mph is sweeping across a wide area of East Idaho, threatening significant damage to homes, trees and outbuildings.

And the threat is not over once the immediate storms pass.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Wednesday afternoon for several local counties and a severe thunderstorm watch covering all of East Idaho is in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The severe thunderstorm warning covers Bannock, Bonneville, Madison, Jefferson, Fremont, Teton, Caribou, Oneida, Power, Franklin, Bear Lake and Bingham counties.

As of 3:28 p.m. Wednesday, the storm line stretched from Hamer to near Holbrook and was moving northeast at 50 mph. Multiple wind gusts exceeding 60 mph had already been recorded along with reports of blowing dust.

Cities in the path of the Wednesday afternoon storms include Idaho Falls, Ammon, Pocatello, Chubbuck, Rexburg, Blackfoot, Shelley, Firth, Rigby, Soda Springs, Grace, Bancroft, St. Anthony, Ashton, Sugar City, McCammon, Arimo, Inkom, Lava Hot Springs, Palisades and Swan Valley.

The weather service warns residents to expect considerable tree damage and likely damage to homes, roofs and outbuildings.

The watch means conditions remain favorable for additional severe thunderstorms to develop across the region through the evening hours.

If you are in the path of these storms, move immediately to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. Reports will be forwarded to the National Weather Service office in Pocatello.