Hail in Washington, April 4, 2012

Name: Hail in Washington, April 4, 2012
Start: 2012-04-04T15:45
End: 2012-04-04T18:02
Location: Washington

April 4, 2012 · NWS PDT · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

An upper level low pressure area combined with daytime heating produced a very unstable atmosphere across southeast Washington.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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 PDT wrote it up.

An upper level low pressure area combined with daytime heating produced a very unstable atmosphere across southeast Washington.

What forecasters said that day

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 Apr 4, 3:21 PM PST, 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 4, 3:21 PM PST, 24 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
421 PM PDT WED APR 4 2012

UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...SNOW EVENT IS WINDING DOWN
IN THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS AND WILL DROP ALL HIGHLIGHTS WITH THE
AFTERNOON PACKAGE. THE UPPER LOW IS MAKING PROGRESS INLAND AND
EXPECT SCATTERED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS TO DEVELOP AND PERSIST INTO
THE EVENING HOURS. LATEST MESOSCALE ANALYSIS SHOWS THE AIRMASS IS
STARTING TO DESTABILIZE WITH BREAKS IN THE OVERCAST. SURFACE-BASED
LIFTED INDICIES ARE -1 TO -2. THUS THERE IS STILL SOME POTENTIAL FOR
CONVECTIVE SHOWERS/ISOLATED TSTMS WITH SMALL HAIL THROUGH SUNSET.
MORE OF THE SAME IS EXPECTED ON THURSDAY AND TO SOME EXTENT FRIDAY
WITH THE UPPER LOW OVERHEAD. SHOWERS WILL PEAK IN THE AFTERNOON/
EARLY EVENING BOTH DAYS. TEMPERATURES AND SNOW LEVELS WILL BE WELL
BELOW NORMAL. BY SATURDAY...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER
THE AREA WITH MODERATING TEMPERATURES AND DRIER CONDITIONS. 78

.LONG TERM...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...MODELS ARE IN GOOD
AGREEMENT IN HAVING AN UPPER LOW OFF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST
SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT THOUGH IT WILL DRIFT CLOSER TO
THE COAST AFTER MONDAY NIGHT. THE LOW WILL SEND A SOUTHWEST FLOW
INTO THE AREA AND BUILD A RIDGE OVER EASTERN OREGON AND WASHINGTON.
WEATHER WILL BE GENERALLY DRY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT THOUGH THE LOW
WILL SEND A SERIES OF DISTURBANCES ASHORE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE
CASCADES AND THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS ALONG THE
CASCADE CREST. BY TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT THE LOW WILL BECOME AN
OPEN WAVE AND FORM A TROUGH AS IT MOVES ASHORE. RAIN SHOWERS WILL
DEVELOP OVER THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS THE CASCADES. THE
TROUGH WILL MOVE OVER THE AREA WEDNESDAY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN IN
THE MOUNTAINS AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS IN THE LOWER
ELEVATIONS. SNOW LEVELS WILL GENERALLY BE OVER 6000 FEET THROUGH THE
PERIOD SO ONLY THE HIGHEST PEAKS WILL SEE SNOW SHOWERS. TEMPERATURES
WILL START OUT ON SUNDAY IN THE UPPER 50S TO MID 60S WITH 50S IN THE
MOUNTAINS, WARM TO THE MID 60S TO LOWER 70S WITH MID 50S TO MID 60S
IN THE MOUNTAINS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY THEN COOL A FEW DEGREES ON
THURSDAY AS THE TROUGH MOVES INTO THE AREA. PERRY

&&

.AVIATION...00Z TAFS...CONVECTIVE SHOWERS WITH CEILINGS ABOVE 5000
FEET AGL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING AND SHOULD END BY 03Z WITH THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING.
BRIEF RAIN SHOWERS WITH SOME SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS ARE
THE MAIN CONCERNS. SURFACE WINDS OF 10 TO 20 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 30
KTS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 03Z BEFORE DIMINISHING. TONIGHT CEILINGS
WILL LOWER TO MVFR/IFR AFTER 08Z AS RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS MOVE INTO
ALL TAF SITES EXCEPT KYKM AND KPSC. KYKM AND KPSC SHOULD REMAIN AT
VFR LEVELS. SHOWERS WILL END AND CEILINGS WILL RAISE TO VFR LEVELS
AFTER 16Z TOMORROW MORNING. MORE CONVECTIVE SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP
AFTER 20Z TOMORROW AFTERNOON WITH RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS, SMALL HAIL AND
THE POSSIBILITY OF A FEW LIGHTNING STRIKES. SURFACE WINDS WILL DROP
BELOW 15 KTS AFTER 03Z TONIGHT THOUGH KPDT MAY HAVE A FEW GUSTS TO
20 KTS. AFTER 20Z TOMORROW AFTERNOON WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 10 TO 20
KTS WITH A FEW GUSTS TO 25 KTS. PERRY

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT  30  49  31  50 /  40  40  30  30
ALW  34  51  35  51 /  50  40  30  30
PSC  34  55  33  56 /  20  20  20  20
YKM  30  51  30  53 /  20  20  20  10
HRI  32  53  32  56 /  30  30  20  20
ELN  30  50  30  51 /  20  20  20  20
RDM  21  42  19  45 /  30  40  30  20
LGD  25  42  28  43 /  40  60  40  60
GCD  22  41  24  43 /  50  50  40  50
DLS  34  52  32  55 /  40  40  20  20

&&

.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...NONE.
WA...NONE.
&&

THREAT INDEX
THURSDAY : GREEN
FRIDAY : GREEN
SATURDAY : GREEN

GREEN: NONE OR LIMITED NEED FOR WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES.
YELLOW: A FEW WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES POSSIBLE OR IN EFFECT.
RED: NUMEROUS WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES POSSIBLE OR IN EFFECT.

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT...
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON

78/83/83

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 4, 1:41 PM PST, 2 hours 4 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
241 PM PDT WED APR 4 2012

UPDATED FOR THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING

ORZ041-042-044-049-050-502-503-505>509-WAZ024-026>030-520-521-
051415-
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF OREGON-NORTH CENTRAL OREGON-
LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON-GRANDE RONDE VALLEY-WALLOWA COUNTY-
NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-JOHN DAY BASIN-OCHOCO-
JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS-
FOOTHILLS OF THE NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON CASCADES-
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF WASHINGTON-KITTITAS VALLEY-
YAKIMA VALLEY-LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON-
FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON-
NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON-
EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES-SIMCOE HIGHLANDS-
241 PM PDT WED APR 4 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON
AS WELL AS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS
     EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES, SIMCOE HIGHLANDS,
     EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF WASHINGTON, KITTITAS VALLEY,
     YAKIMA VALLEY, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON, FOOTHILLS
     OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS
     OF WASHINGTON, EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF OREGON, NORTH
     CENTRAL OREGON, EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON CASCADES, LOWER
     COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON, GRANDE RONDE VALLEY, WALLOWA COUNTY,
     FOOTHILLS OF THE NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, NORTHERN
     BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON,
     FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, JOHN DAY
     BASIN, OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS

AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE OVER THE AREA THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING BRINGING COLD AIR ALOFT AND A MARGINALLY
UNSTABLE AIRMASS. THIS WILL ALLOW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP. SOME OF THE HEAVIER ACTIVITY WILL HAVE
THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE ICE PELLETS/SMALL HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY
     EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES, SIMCOE HIGHLANDS,
     EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF WASHINGTON, KITTITAS VALLEY,
     YAKIMA VALLEY, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON, FOOTHILLS
     OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS
     OF WASHINGTON, EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF OREGON, NORTH
     CENTRAL OREGON, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON, FOOTHILLS OF
     THE NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS
     OF OREGON, SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, FOOTHILLS OF THE
     SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON

THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL REMAIN OVER THE AREA ON THURSDAY WITH
A CONTINUED POTENTIAL FOR SHOWERS/ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH ICE
PELLETS/SMALL HAIL...MAINLY IN THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

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/PDT/CURRENTHAZARDS/HWO.HTML

ALL LETTERS IN THE ABOVE URL ARE LOWER CASE.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 4, 10:40 AM PST, 5 hours 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1140 AM PDT WED APR 04 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 SW SPOUT SPRINGS      45.70N 118.11W
04/04/2012  E6.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   MESONET

            HIGH RIDGE SNOTEL. FELL IN LESS THAN 12 HRS.

0900 AM     HEAVY SNOW       9 SW SKI BLUEWOOD       45.98N 117.95W
04/04/2012  E6.0 INCH        WALLOWA            OR   MESONET

            FELL IN LESS THAN 12 HRS. MILK SHAKES SNOTEL.

1023 AM     HEAVY SNOW       JOSEPH                  45.35N 117.23W
04/04/2012  M6.5 INCH        WALLOWA            OR   CO-OP OBSERVER

            THE COOP OBSERVER MEASURED 6.5 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN 24
            HOURS.

&&

MVESCIO

Local storm report, Apr 4, 11:40 AM PST, 4 hours 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1240 PM PDT WED APR 04 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1023 AM     HEAVY SNOW       JOSEPH                  45.35N 117.23W
04/04/2012  M6.5 INCH        WALLOWA            OR   CO-OP OBSERVER

            THE COOP OBSERVER MEASURED 6.5 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN 24
            HOURS.

1135 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 NNE BINGHAM SPRINGS   45.79N 118.21W
04/04/2012  M7.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            THE OBSERVER MEASURED 6-7 INCHES OF SNOW IN LESS THAN 12
            HOURS. IT IS STILL SNOW HEAVY AND THE WIND IS 10-15 MPH
            WITH HIGHER GUSTS. CURRENTLY 28 DEGREES.

1139 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 N MEACHAM             45.53N 118.42W
04/04/2012  M7.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            THE OBSERVER MEASURED 7 INCHES OF SNOW IN 12 HOURS. 5-6
            SINX INCHES FELL AFTER 6 A.M. IT IS CURRENTLY 41 DEGREES
            AND LIGHTLY SNOWING. THE SNOW IS REALLY WET.

1139 AM     SNOW             15 E PENDLETON          45.67N 118.51W
04/04/2012  U0.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            OREGON HIGHWAY PATROL CONFIRMED 3 CARS SLID OFF THE ROAD
            ON I-84 ABOUT 15 MILES EAST OF PENDLETON DUE TO WEATHER
            IMPACTS ON ROAD CONDITIONS.

0900 AM     HEAVY SNOW       COVE                    45.30N 117.81W
04/04/2012  M8.0 INCH        UNION              OR   CO-OP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER SENT IN A PICTURE OF HER SNOW STICK AND
            REPORTED UP TO 8 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION BY 9 A.M.

&&

RQB

Local storm report, Apr 4, 11:53 AM PST, 3 hours 52 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1253 PM PDT WED APR 04 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0730 AM     SNOW             3 N ELGIN               45.60N 117.92W
04/04/2012  M3.0 INCH        UNION              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            OBSERVER MEASURED 3 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION OVERNIGHT AND
            STILL SNOWING HEAVY.

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 SSW MOUNT VERNON      44.37N 119.14W
04/04/2012  M4.0 INCH        GRANT              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            THE OBSERVER MEASURED 4 INCHES OF SNOW OVERNIGHT AND IT
            IS STILL SNOWING.

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 SW SPOUT SPRINGS      45.70N 118.11W
04/04/2012  E6.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   MESONET

            HIGH RIDGE SNOTEL. FELL IN LESS THAN 12 HRS.

0815 AM     HEAVY SNOW       ESE UNION               45.21N 117.86W
04/04/2012  M5.0 INCH        UNION              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            THE OBSERVER MEASURED 5 INCHES OF SNOW OVERNIGHT. IT IS
            CURRENTLY SNOWING WITH A HALF MILE OF VISIBILITY. CALM
            WIND AND THE TEMPERATURE IS 30 DEGREES.

0830 AM     HEAVY SNOW       6 E JOHN DAY            44.42N 118.83W
04/04/2012  M6.0 INCH        GRANT              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            THE OBSERVER MEASURED 6 INCHES OF NEW SNOW AND STILL
            SNOWING. ELEVATION 3420 FEET.

0830 AM     HEAVY SNOW       ENTERPRISE              45.43N 117.28W
04/04/2012  E5.0 INCH        WALLOWA            OR   NWS EMPLOYEE

            NWS EMPLOYEE DRIVING EAST THROUGH ENTERPRISE OBSERVED 4
            TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION, AND IT IS STILL
            SNOWING.

0900 AM     HEAVY SNOW       9 SW SKI BLUEWOOD       45.98N 117.95W
04/04/2012  E6.0 INCH        WALLOWA            OR   MESONET

            FELL IN LESS THAN 12 HRS. MILK SHAKES SNOTEL.

0900 AM     HEAVY SNOW       COVE                    45.30N 117.81W
04/04/2012  M8.0 INCH        UNION              OR   CO-OP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER SENT IN A PICTURE OF HER SNOW STICK AND
            REPORTED UP TO 8 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION BY 9 A.M.

0900 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 SW ATHENA             45.77N 118.56W
04/04/2012  E4.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            RECEIVED 4 INCHES SNOW THIS MORNING. CURRENTLY 40 DEGREES
            AND MODERATE SNOW. ELEV 1500 FT. UM-502.

0930 AM     HEAVY SLEET      5 E JOSEPH              45.35N 117.12W
04/04/2012  M5.00 INCH       WALLOWA            OR   NWS EMPLOYEE

            NWS EMPLOYEE DRIVING EAST FROM JOSEPH TOWARD IMNAHA

            MEASURED 5 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION 5 MILES EAST OF JOSEPH.

1023 AM     HEAVY SNOW       JOSEPH                  45.35N 117.23W
04/04/2012  M6.5 INCH        WALLOWA            OR   CO-OP OBSERVER

            THE COOP OBSERVER MEASURED 6.5 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN 24
            HOURS.

1023 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 N ELGIN               45.60N 117.92W
04/04/2012  M4.0 INCH        UNION              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            UPDATED OBSERVATION, THE OBSERVER MEASURED 4 INCHES OF
            ACCUMULATION IN UNDER 12 HOURS. THE SNOW FALL IS
            DIMINISHING.

1135 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 NNE BINGHAM SPRINGS   45.79N 118.21W
04/04/2012  M7.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            THE OBSERVER MEASURED 6-7 INCHES OF SNOW IN LESS THAN 12
            HOURS. IT IS STILL SNOW HEAVY AND THE WIND IS 10-15 MPH
            WITH HIGHER GUSTS. CURRENTLY 28 DEGREES.

1139 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 N MEACHAM             45.53N 118.42W
04/04/2012  M7.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            THE OBSERVER MEASURED 7 INCHES OF SNOW IN 12 HOURS. 5-6
            INCHES FELL AFTER 6 A.M. IT IS CURRENTLY 41 DEGREES AND
            LIGHTLY SNOWING. THE SNOW IS REALLY WET.

1139 AM     SNOW             15 E PENDLETON          45.67N 118.51W
04/04/2012  U0.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            OREGON HIGHWAY PATROL CONFIRMED 3 CARS SLID OFF THE ROAD
            ON I-84 ABOUT 15 MILES EAST OF PENDLETON DUE TO WEATHER
            IMPACTS ON ROAD CONDITIONS.

&&
SUMMARY OF REPORTS THUS FAR FOR LATEST WINTER STORM.

MVESCIO

The radar

The Pendleton radar (KPDT), 59 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:46 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 hail, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Walla Walla

When: April 4, 3:45 PM PST
Where: Walla Walla County, 1.18 mi NW of Walla Walla
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 46.080, -118.340

Funnel Cloud, Benton

When: April 4, 6:02 PM PST
Where: Benton County, 9 mi S of Badger
Reported by: Other Federal Agency
Coordinates: 46.100, -119.337

The air traffic control tower at Pasco airport reported at funnel cloud about 15 miles southwest of the airport with little or no movement.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Washington in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Washington, April 2012

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: 368558, 368564.