Parts of Idaho looked like the Arctic on the first full weekend of summer when torrential thunderstorms and hail flooded the streets with ice floats, according to dramatic social-media footage. 

In a wild scene Saturday outside the state’s capital of Boise, a resident was caught on Instagram footage paddling a bright green kayak through the ice-covered floodwaters rushing down a suburban road — while a rural county near Nevada was hammered with a staggering 553 lightning strikes. 

“It was small hail, but there was an awful lot of it,” said Josh Smith, the Boise-based National Weather Service’s lead meteorologist, to the Idaho Statesman. 

Cars parked along local streets were nearly swallowed by surging water from the relentless rains – with some vehicles submerged up to their windows – while trash bins floated through the makeshift river, the surreal footage shows. 

The widespread storm damage across the Gem State’s Treasure Valley region – a heavily-populated area that encompasses parts of Ada and Canyon counties – was also fueled by winds topping 50 mph, the Statesman said.

As for the hail, “Even some of our employees that were in northwest Meridian said they had several inches of small hail on the ground,” Smith said.

“That probably led to some of the flooding issues with some of those neighborhoods because all that melted off quickly, and the drains weren’t able to handle it – in addition to the inch-plus rain that we received,” Smith explained. 

Lightning was also relentless throughout the storm, with rural Owyhee County – located about 150 miles south of Boise, near the Nevada border – recording a mind-boggling 553 lightning strikes. 

Ada County had 100 strikes in one day – the second-most ever recorded on a single day in June since 2000, according to Smith and the National Weather Service. 

Officials in Canyon County declared a countywide disaster emergency as crews scrambled to respond to the damage, while employees with the Ada County Highway District worked overnight clearing flooded roads and addressing other hazards, the Statesman reported. 

The Boise Police Department shared photos of the river-like road conditions on Facebook, urging drivers to use “extreme caution.” 

In neighboring Payette County, mudslides triggered by severe flooding caused many highway and street closures Friday, according to the sheriff’s office. 

It was not immediately clear whether anyone was injured. 

The dangerous weather was expected to continue through the weekend, forecasters warned. 

The NWS issued a winter storm warning Saturday for parts of eastern Idaho, where elevations above 6,500 feet were expected to be battered with as much as 8 inches of snow. 

“Plan on cold and wet backcountry conditions with a heightened hypothermia risk for those not properly dressed. Wet snow may down trees and block access to forest roadways,” the advisory warned, according to the East Idaho News. 

SALMON — State officials are celebrating the grand opening of Idaho’s newest state park.

Twin Peaks Ranch State Park at 199 Twin Peaks Ranch Road between Challis and Salmon, opened in May. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation recently acquired the 670-acre site from a private landowner and hosted a ribbon-cutting and open house on Saturday.

The park offers a variety of amenities, including 25 full-service cabins, a lodge and a restaurant. It also has a disc golf course, a rodeo arena and an equestrian center.

“We’ll be able to stage horseback tours out of that area,” Ryan Buffington, the department’s East Region manager who serves as the park’s spokesman,” told EastIdahoNews.com in May. “We’re working with the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to designate an off-highway vehicle trailhead as well.”

RELATED | Small mining community near Challis rose and fell in 30 years, and now it’s one of Idaho’s ghost towns

Two campgrounds are in development on the property for future use — one accommodating off-highway vehicles and the other catering to people on horseback.

Community members, local leaders and visitors across the state attended Saturday’s open house. Muzzie Braun from Challis-based band Braun Brothers Reunion was there, as was Salmon Back Country Horsemen Association. Multiple food vendors were there as well, including Water’s Edge Food Truck, and Taco Wagon Food Truck.

In a June 18 news release, Idaho Parks and Recreation Director Susan Buxton said she’s excited to celebrate the opening of Idaho’s 30th state park, and the 28th one under the department’s management.

“Opening Twin Peaks Ranch State Park marks a historic milestone for Idaho Parks and Recreation,” Buxton said. “This park serves as a gateway to endless outdoor recreation opportunities while creating a premier destination for visitors seeking adventure, relaxation and unforgettable experiences.”

Twin Peaks Ranch is the first newly acquired standalone state park in nearly 30 years. Thousand Springs in Gooding County, which is a natural discharge point for the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, wasn’t recognized as an official state park until 2005. The designation merged four natural landmarks — Malad Gorge, Niagara Springs, Billingsley Creek and Ritter Island — into one unified site.

RELATED | Curtailment order targets 924 groundwater rights across eastern Idaho

Heyburn State Park, created in 1908, is Idaho’s oldest state park, according to the University of Idaho. The donation of the Harriman family’s 11,000-acre ranch to the State of Idaho in 1963 — what is now Harriman State Park — led to the creation of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

RELATED | Disputed Idaho bill signed into law despite strong opposition in eastern Idaho

Buffington says the Moore family sold the Twin Peaks Ranch property to the State of Idaho in October. They bought it in 2018. It began operating as a guest ranch in the 1990s, but had been a dude ranch for 40 years before that.

While there is evidence of early settlements on the property in the 1890s, Buffington says its definitive history begins in the 1950s. E. DuPont bought it, built five cabins and ran it as a dude ranch. It was sold to another private holding in the 1970s, and more amenities were added.

Buffington says multiple Moore family members were involved in the ranch when they bought it eight years ago. Many of them backed out over time, and managing it became “too challenging.” That’s what led the family to list it for sale.

The State of Idaho saw the listing and bought it from them. Buffington says they were thrilled with the idea of it becoming public property that everyone could enjoy.

“Twin Peaks Ranch State Park represents a significant investment in Idaho’s public lands and local communities. The project reflects IDPR’s mission to improve quality of life through outdoor recreation and resource stewardship while expanding public access to some of Idaho’s most scenic and unspoiled landscapes,” the news release says. “The park is expected to deliver lasting benefits to recreation, conservation, tourism, and community well-being for generations to come.”

Department officials say Twin Peaks Ranch State Park is ideal for corporate retreats, weddings, family reunions and other events. To make a reservation or learn more, call 208-894-2290 or visit the website.