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CANYON COUNTY, Idaho – Canyon County in southwest Idaho has declared a countywide disaster emergency after a powerful thunderstorm and hailstorm caused widespread flash flooding and structural damage across the Treasure Valley. The fast-moving storm system struck the Nampa-Caldwell and Meridian areas on the evening of Friday, June 26, 2026, bringing intense lightning, wind gusts of up to 55 mph (89 km/h), and torrential rainfall that exceeded one inch in less than an hour. The National Weather Service in Boise reported that the storm dropped an extraordinary volume of small hail, which piled up several inches deep and blanketed residential neighborhoods and roadways like winter snow. As the hail began to melt rapidly, the combined runoff and concentrated rainfall overwhelmed local storm drains and municipal drainage infrastructure, triggering severe flash flooding across the region. Multiple roadways were submerged under feet of water, trapping motorists and leaving numerous vehicles completely underwater, while emergency responders and local law enforcement agencies, including the Boise and Caldwell Police Departments, worked through the night to conduct water rescues, clear stranded vehicles, and manage road closures. The Canyon County Board of Commissioners signed a formal Declaration of Local Disaster Emergency citing extensive damage to public infrastructure and municipal buildings. On June 30, 2026, county emergency management officials escalated recovery operations and issued an urgent appeal for affected residents to complete a comprehensive Flood Assistance & Needs Assessment survey, designed to identify unmet emergency needs and help coordinate recovery resources for households and communities across the Treasure Valley.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.