Idaho, 1997

Damaging Wind in Idaho, May 31, 1997

May 31, 1997 · NWS MSO · 1 event in 1 county or zone

S. Highway 12 near Orofino.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MSO wrote it up.

Wind gusts from thunderstorms 50-60mph blew a tree across U.S. Highway 12 near Orofino. Other trees up to three feet in diameter and limbs 18 to 20 inches thick were blown down, with trees down on cars. Also damaged were car ports and decks.

The radar

The Spokane radar (KOTX), 169 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:57 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clearwater

When
May 31, 1:00 PM PST to 2:00 PM PST
Where
Clearwater County, Orofino
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
46.480, -116.250

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Idaho in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, May 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5600157.