High winds blow through Idaho, injure two children
Watch & Listen in 60 Seconds
60-Second Summary
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Strong winds and gusts from a fast-moving storm on Wednesday toppled aging trees and power lines, critically injuring two children at a school bus stop and causing widespread power outages and road closures across southern Idaho. Emergency crews including Twin Falls Fire Department, Magic Valley Paramedics and Air St. Luke's responded; one child was airlifted to St. Luke’s Magic Valley and another taken by ambulance. National Weather Service recorded gusts up to 68–70 mph; Idaho Transportation Department reported multiple crash-related closures including I-84 and I-15 segments. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.
About this summary
This 60-second summary was prepared by the JQJO editorial team after reviewing 4 original reports from KIVI, East Idaho News, FOX Weather and KIDO Talk Radio.
Timeline of Events
- Dec. 17, 2025 morning — High-wind warnings issued across southern Idaho.
- 7:00 a.m. (approx.) — A fallen tree critically injured two children at a Twin Falls bus stop.
- Mid-morning — NWS and FOX reported gusts up to 68–70 mph in Twin Falls.
- Midday — Multiple crashes, rollovers, and interstate closures reported; ITD posted imagery and warnings.
- Afternoon — Emergency crews and utility crews responded; outages and clean-up operations continued.
- Articles Published:
- 4
- Right Leaning:
- 2
- Left Leaning:
- 0
- Neutral:
- 2
- Distribution:
- Left 0%, Center 50%, Right 50%
Utility repair crews, emergency responders, and transportation agencies gained immediate work and funding opportunities through emergency contracts and recovery operations during the windstorm response.
Local residents, particularly the two critically injured children and households without power, suffered physical harm, property damage, and disruptions to daily life and travel.
After reading and researching latest news.... The windstorm exposed vulnerabilities in tree management and infrastructure; rotten trees falling caused injuries, outages, and multiple traffic incidents, indicating a need for prioritized vegetation inspections and coordinated emergency response to reduce harm during extreme wind events.
Coverage of Story:
From Left
No left-leaning sources found for this story.
From Right
Two kids waiting for the bus critically injured due to strong winds in Idaho
FOX Weather KIDO Talk Radio
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