BOISE -- Thousands of Treasure Valley residents were left in the dark last night after a cold front brought gusty winds and rain to southwest Idaho.
There were intense periods of rain and powerful wind. The National Weather Service reported winds gusts reaching 58 mph just south of Boise around 7 p.m.
Some traffic signals flickered, while others went completely went out.
Crews quickly put out signs to help guide traffic in the pitch black.
Power outtages forced dozens of businesses on Overland Road in Boise to close early.
"I saw power trucks working on Overland so I know they're trying," Marilyn Sears said.
Marilyn Sears planned to shop at the Walmart Supercenter but was turned away.
"I got told the power's out and I couldn't shop," Sears said.
Customers left, but employees stayed on the clock in case the power returned.
In neighborhoods, trees crashed down barely avoiding homes.
"Sounded like a car crash that's why I originally came out to look at it. It was an amazing loud sound," Steve Semrau said.
Howard Jones and his family were sitting at the dinner table, watching the blue spruce tree in their front yard sway.
"A few minutes later we heard a snap crackle and pop. It fell over and bumped into the side of the house," Jones said.
They were obviously worried about the damage to their home, but luckily they were spared. There was just some minor damage to their roof.
"We're thankful for the storm, thankful for the moisture and we're especially thankful the tree didn't fall on the house," Jones said.
The outages stretched from Boise to Homedale, and from Kuna to Star.
Idaho Power says some distribution lines went down, so that's why about 8,500 customers were without power.
All of the outages were storm related, with trees and branches taking down many of the power lines.
By morning, Idaho Power said all of their customers had power again.
