Alert archive / Idaho / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Spokane, WA

July 28, 2009Bonner County, Idaho; Pend Oreille County, Washington

NWS Spokane, WA issued this tornado warning at Jul 28, 2009, 3:31 PM PDT for Bonner County, Idaho; Pend Oreille County, Washington. It was in force for 44 min. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jul 28, 2009, 3:31 PM PDT (22:31 UTC)
Expired
Jul 28, 2009, 4:15 PM PDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Spokane, WA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Bonner County, ID, Pend Oreille County, WA

The radar

The Spokane radar (KOTX), 86 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:33 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 28, 3:35 PM PDTHAIL 14 Wsw Coolin, ID
Jul 28, 4:15 PM PDTTSTM WND DMGW Newport, WAREPORTS OF TREES DOWN ACROSS VARIOUS PORTIONS OF THE TOWN.
Jul 28, 4:20 PM PDTTSTM WND DMGNewport, WAMANY TREES TOTALLY UPROOTED. TREES FALLEN ON HOMES. DAMAGE TO UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN TOWN.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Spokane, WA (KOTX), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 82 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Spokane, WA at 12:00Z on 2009-07-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 261 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Spokane, WA at 12:00Z on 2009-07-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 7 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
261 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-220 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1288 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
7 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
218 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

354 
WFUS56 KOTX 282231
TOROTX
IDC017-WAC051-282315-
/O.NEW.KOTX.TO.W.0001.090728T2231Z-090728T2315Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
331 PM PDT TUE JUL 28 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL PEND OREILLE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST WASHINGTON...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF NEWPORT...
  WEST CENTRAL BONNER COUNTY IN THE PANHANDLE OF IDAHO...

* UNTIL 415 PM PDT

* AT 330 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 6 MILES WEST OF
  COOLIN...OR 22 MILES NORTH OF NEWPORT...MOVING SOUTH AT 25 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SOUTH
  SKOOKUM LAKE CAMPGROUND...BEAD LAKE CAMPGROUND...PRIEST RIVER AND
  OLDTOWN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

&&

LAT...LON 4812 11684 4822 11732 4859 11708 4857 11681
TIME...MOT...LOC 2231Z 007DEG 20KT 4849 11697

$$

FRIES
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS56 KOTX 282245
SVSOTX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
345 PM PDT TUE JUL 28 2009

IDC017-WAC051-282315-
/O.CON.KOTX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-090728T2315Z/
BONNER ID-PEND OREILLE WA-
345 PM PDT TUE JUL 28 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM PDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN PEND OREILLE AND WEST CENTRAL BONNER COUNTIES...

AT 343 PM PDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED TREES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 
57 IN PRIEST LAKE RANGER DISTRICT.  THIS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A 
TORNADO OR SEVERE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PRIEST
RIVER AND OLDTOWN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

&&

LAT...LON 4848 11702 4844 11682 4812 11684 4821 11728
TIME...MOT...LOC 2244Z 007DEG 20KT 4842 11698

$$

FRIES
000 
WWUS56 KOTX 282255
SVSOTX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
355 PM PDT TUE JUL 28 2009

IDC017-WAC051-282315-
/O.CON.KOTX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-090728T2315Z/
BONNER ID-PEND OREILLE WA-
355 PM PDT TUE JUL 28 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM PDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN PEND OREILLE AND WEST CENTRAL BONNER COUNTIES...

AT 351 PM PDT...THE KALISPELL TRIBE REPORTED SOUTHWEST OF COOLIN 
HAIL TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 11 MILES NORTH 
OF PRIEST RIVER...OR 12 MILES NORTH OF NEWPORT...MOVING SOUTH AT 25 
MPH.  IN ADDITION...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED 
TO INDICATE THE POSSIBILITY OF A TORNADO WITH THIS STORM.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
OLDTOWN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

&&

LAT...LON 4843 11702 4840 11682 4812 11684 4819 11720
TIME...MOT...LOC 2254Z 002DEG 22KT 4833 11698

$$

FRIES
000 
WWUS56 KOTX 282312
SVSOTX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
412 PM PDT TUE JUL 28 2009

IDC017-WAC051-282321-
/O.EXP.KOTX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-090728T2315Z/
BONNER ID-PEND OREILLE WA-
412 PM PDT TUE JUL 28 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN PEND OREILLE AND WEST CENTRAL
BONNER COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 415 PM PDT...

THE THUNDERSTORM HAS MOVED SOUTH OF THE WARNED AREA.  A SEVERE 
THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM FOR NORTHEASTERN 
SPOKANE COUNTY...NORTHWESTERN KOOTENAI COUNTY...SOUTHEASTERN PEND 
OREILLE COUNTY...AND SOUTHWESTERN BONNER COUNTY.

LAT...LON 4843 11702 4840 11682 4812 11684 4819 11720
TIME...MOT...LOC 2311Z 006DEG 18KT 4824 11700

$$

FRIES

The office that day

Everything else NWS Spokane, WA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 27, 10:41 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementOTXBonner49 min
Jul 27, 11:12 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementOTXBonner33 min
Jul 28, 2:57 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementOTXBoundary48 min
Jul 28, 3:22 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOTXBonner53 min
Jul 28, 4:10 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOTXBonner, Kootenai25 min
Jul 28, 3:58 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementOTXFerry62 min
Jul 28, 4:01 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementOTXLincoln59 min
Jul 28, 4:48 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementOTXPend Oreille42 min
Jul 28, 4:54 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementOTXFerry51 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Idaho, 2009Tornado Warnings in Washington, 2009Every tornado warning in 2009Tornadoes in 2009

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.