1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Pendleton, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 18, 1:10 PM PST, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
210 PM PDT THU MAY 18 2006
.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. LATEST RADAR WAS
SHOWING THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE
REGION IN OREGON. ABUNDANT MOISTURE REMAINS IN PLACE OVER THE AREA
WITH PWAT PUSHING ABOVE AN INCH AND SFC DEW POINTS RISING INTO THE
50S. COMBINING THIS WITH NEAR RECORD HEAT AND A MID LEVEL SHORT WAVE
THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE MOVING NORTH AND EXPAND IN COVERAGE
AND INTENSITY INTO THIS EVENING. WITH A FAIRLY LOW WBZ...HAIL
GREATER THAN HALF INCH IS BRIEFLY POSSIBLE AND DUE TO THE SLOW
MOVEMENT OF STORMS SOME LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE. AN
INVERTED V SOUNDING AND THE TSTORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS. A
COOL FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION TOMORROW WITH NOTICEABLY COOLER
AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES EXPECTED ESPECIALLY IN THE WEST ALONG THE
CASCADES. WITH THE APPROACH OF THE FRONT...AND AN UPPER LEVEL JET
POSITIONING ITSELF OVERHEAD BY LATE AFTERNOON/TOMORROW NITE...THE
CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE. A MID
LEVEL LOW OFF THE N CA/OR COAST WILL REMAIN STATIONARY SPINNING
DISTURBANCES ACROSS THE TWO STATE AREA KEEPING THE UNSETTLED AND
COOLER WEATHER IN THE FORECAST SATURDAY.
.LONG TERM...SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN
WILL CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST TUESDAY. AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM OFF
THE CALIFORNIA COAST WILL AT TIMES SEND DISTURBANCES AND MOISTURE
NORTHWARD ACROSS THE INTERIOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST. SUNDAY AFTERNOON
AND EVENING THERE MAY BE ADEQUATE INSTABILITY AND VERTICAL WIND
SHEAR FOR SOME ISOLATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS. MONDAY LOOKS SOMEWHAT
MORE STABLE BUT STILL A SLIGHT CHANCE OF AFTERNOON/EVENING
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE MOUNTAINS. BY WEDNESDAY CONDITIONS LOOK DRIER
AND MORE STABLE. 80
&&
.PREVIOUS AVIATION DISCUSSION...VFR CONDITIONS WILL GENERALLY
PREVAIL FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. LOCAL MVFR CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE
NEAR ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. THE BEST CHANCES FOR VCTS IS AT KRDM...KALW AND KPDT.
WILL PUT LOCAL MVFR INTO TWEB ROUTES 366/368...BUT WILL LEAVE MVFR
CONDITIONS OUT OF TAFS. WIND GUSTS TO 40 KNOTS ARE POSSIBLE NEAR THE
STRONGER STORMS.
.HYDROLOGY...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NACHES RIVER
NEAR NACHES. A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE IMNAHA RIVER AT
IMNAHA. FORECASTERS ARE ALSO MONITORING THE GRANDE RONDE RIVER AT
TROY...ALTHOUGH FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED THERE. THE RAPID SNOW MELT
RUNOFF IS THE MAIN REASON FOR THE HIGH WATER LEVELS.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT 63 85 56 74 / 40 20 30 30
ALW 65 87 58 76 / 40 20 30 30
PSC 62 90 58 81 / 20 20 30 20
YKM 62 83 56 76 / 20 20 30 30
HRI 61 87 56 78 / 30 20 30 20
ELN 58 81 53 74 / 20 20 30 30
RDM 52 77 48 68 / 40 20 40 30
LGD 57 85 54 72 / 40 20 30 30
5J0 52 85 51 74 / 50 20 40 30
DLS 61 79 56 75 / 20 20 40 30
&&
.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...FLOOD WATCH FOR THE IMNAHA RIVER AT IMNAHA IN WALLOWA COUNTY
(ORZ050).
WA...FLOOD WARNING FOR THE NACHES RIVER NEAR NACHES IN YAKIMA
COUNTY (WAC077)
&&
TI:YGG
FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT...
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON
97/80/80HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED TYPOS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
330 PM PDT THU MAY 18 2006
WAZ024-501-502-026>030-ORZ041>044-049-050-501>506-191130-
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON-
EAST SLOPES OF THE SOUTHERN CASCADES OF WASHINGTON-
KITTITAS VALLEY-YAKIMA VALLEY-LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON-
FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON-
NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS-EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF OREGON-
NORTH CENTRAL OREGON-CENTRAL OREGON-
LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON-GRANDE RONDE VALLEY-WALLOWA COUNTY-
FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
NORTHERN WHEELER AND SOUTHERN GILLIAM COUNTIES-JOHN DAY BASIN-
OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS-
330 PM PDT THU MAY 18 2006
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON
AS WELL AS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
FLOOD WARNING
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON
THUNDERSTORMS
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF WASHINGTON, EAST SLOPES OF THE
SOUTHERN CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, KITTITAS VALLEY, YAKIMA
VALLEY, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON, FOOTHILLS OF THE
BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS,
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF OREGON, NORTH CENTRAL OREGON,
CENTRAL OREGON, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON, GRANDE RONDE
VALLEY, WALLOWA COUNTY, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF
OREGON, NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, SOUTHERN BLUE
MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, NORTHERN WHEELER AND SOUTHERN GILLIAM
COUNTIES, JOHN DAY BASIN, OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS
A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NACHES RIVER NEAR NACHES.
PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST FLOOD STATEMENT PDXFLSPDT WWUS86 KPDT
FOR DETAILS. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT ACROSS
EASTERN OREGON AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS
OVER SOUTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON. THE BIGGEST THREAT WITH
THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT WILL BE WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND HAIL UP TO
ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER. HOWEVER...A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY
PRODUCE HAIL UP TO PENNY SIZE OR WIND GUSTS TO 55-60 MPH.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
FLOOD WARNING FRIDAY THROUGH
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON
THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF WASHINGTON, EAST SLOPES OF THE
SOUTHERN CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, KITTITAS VALLEY, YAKIMA
VALLEY, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON, FOOTHILLS OF THE
BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS,
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF OREGON, NORTH CENTRAL OREGON,
CENTRAL OREGON, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON, GRANDE RONDE
VALLEY, WALLOWA COUNTY, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF
OREGON, NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, SOUTHERN BLUE
MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, NORTHERN WHEELER AND SOUTHERN GILLIAM
COUNTIES, JOHN DAY BASIN, OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS
FLOOD WATCH SATURDAY UNTIL MONDAY
WALLOWA COUNTY
THE FLOOD WARNING FOR THE NACHES RIVER NEAR NACHES IS IN EFFECT
THROUGH SUNDAY. A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE IMNAHA RIVER AT
IMNAHA FOR SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST FLOOD
WATCH PDXFFAPDT WWUS66 KPDT FOR DETAILS. ANOTHER ROUND OF
AFTERNOON/EVENING THUNDERSTORMS IS FORECAST FOR FRIDAY THROUGH
SUNDAY. THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...AND GUSTY
WINDS. THE UNSETTLED WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE LIKELY TODAY DUE TO SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS.
WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
GRAPHICAL FORECASTS OF WEATHER HAZARDS OUT TO SEVEN DAYS
ARE DISPLAYED ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT:
WWW.WRH.NOAA.GOV/PENDLETON/CURRENTHAZARDS/HWO.HTML
ALL LETTERS IN THE ABOVE URL ARE LOWER CASE...EXCEPT THE H IN
CURRENTHAZARDS.PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
246 PM PDT THU MAY 18 2006
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0120 PM HAIL 9 NW SENECA 44.24N 119.09W
05/18/2006 E0.25 INCH GRANT OR TRAINED SPOTTER
0150 PM HAIL 25 SW JOHN DAY 44.16N 119.31W
05/18/2006 E0.50 INCH GRANT OR PUBLIC
&&
RCRAMPThe Pendleton radar (KPDT), 169 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:29 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck a weather vane on top of a barn and sparked a fire that destroyed the barn roof.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, May 2006
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: 5506995.