Of The Worst Hurricanes in Landlocked West Since 1900, What is Idaho’s?

Hurricanes produce possibilities of major damage and loss. Many states along the coast are affected by these powerful storms pulling power from the ocean. How bad can it possibly be when you live in a landlocked state? Well, Some states are bigger than others, but there are far more powerful storms on the East Coast vs. the West.

New Mexico was hit with a whopper in 2008. Hurricane Dolly left a record 8.53 inches of rain and $28 million in damages. She was evidently done after New Mexico. The desert drained all her spirit and the storm was gone by the next day.

Norbert sounds cute, like something you’d name your goldfish. This Norbert was not so sweet. He managed to hit Arizona and Nevada with record rainfall in 2014. $18 million in damage was recorded in 2 Arizona counties alone with 6.09 inches of rain in Chandler and 3.3 inches in Phoenix. He managed $10 million in damage and 4.67 inches of rain in Clark County, equalling 8 months of rain in a normal year.

20 fatalities are attributed to Hurricane Linda's flooding in Utah in 2015. 4.11 inches of rain fell at Alta at an elevation of 8,560 feet. That water rushing down through the mountains to the desert caused floods in southern Utah that rushed to the Arizona border.

Idaho Shares Its Worst Hurricane With 2 Other States

Idaho shares something more than just borders with Wyoming and Montana. Hurricane Kathleen in 1976 dumped 2.05 inches of rain near Ketchum. She’s a busy girl, though. Her popularity reached into Wyoming as well. She brought 1 inch of rain and a bird called a white ibis, which is found in Mexico, Central America, the Gulf Coast, and the Caribbean. She was a powerful girl and reached as far as Montana bringing 1.89 inches at Lakeview.

Not to be left out, Lester struck Colorado in August 1992. He laid out 5.35 inches near Wolf Creek Pass. Normally they’re happy to see precipitation but are prepared for it to fall in the form of snow. If only hurricanes happened in the winter.