Second ‘rare’ tornado in less than a month touches down in eastern Idaho

Ian Max Stevenson
·1 min read
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A rare weather event happened Friday in eastern Idaho, marking at least the second such occurrence in recent weeks.

Around 12:30 p.m., a tornado touched down on flat land between Soda Springs and Grace, two towns in eastern Idaho near the Wyoming and Utah borders.

The tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service.

Tornadoes consist of quickly rotating air in a narrow column, and often appear dramatic. They are usually caused by storms with rapidly increasing wind speeds or when storms change direction, meteorologist Greg Kaiser with the Weather Service’s Pocatello office told the Idaho Statesman.

Kaiser said that tornadoes are “rare” in Idaho.

In May, another tornado touched down southeast of Twin Falls.

Kaiser said he thinks tornadoes sometimes go unreported because they occur in unpopulated areas, and nobody sees them.