One of the most widespread severe weather events occurred across the Spokane County Warning Area on July 20th. Several days prior to the day of the event, a deep upper-level low slowly sagged down the Pacific Northwest Coastline.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 episode as NWS OTX wrote it up.
One of the most widespread severe weather events occurred across the Spokane County Warning Area on July 20th. Several days prior to the day of the event, a deep upper-level low slowly sagged down the Pacific Northwest Coastline. Southerly flow ahead of the low pumped moist, unstable air into the Inland Northwest. The combination of afternoon heating and smaller impulses ejecting from the offshore low kept the region very unsettled with several rounds of severe thunderstorms from the 15th through the 19th. On the morning of the 20th, the remnants of Tropical Storm Fabio became ingested into the southerly flow and transported toward the region. Meanwhile, a shortwave dropping into the Gulf of Alaska acted to kick the upper-low off the southwestern Oregon Coast inland. The upper-level wave took on a strong negative tilt, driven northeastward by a 75kt jet streak, crossing through Eastern Washington during the early to late afternoon on July 20th. The combination of strong dynamic forcing along the shortwave, presence of an abnormally moist, unstable air mass, time of day, highly diffluent flow aloft, and jet streak dynamics led to numerous severe thunderstorms across Eastern Washington. Severe hail, winds, and flash flooding were observed with storms during the early afternoon but the threat transitioned to severe winds by the mid to late afternoon as storms migrated into the Northeastern Mountains. These storms blew down hundreds of trees causing one fatality. Ferry and Okanogan Counties were the hardest hit counties and experienced power outages in some remote communities in excess of one week. Consequently, state and federal assistance was necessary. Preliminary damage figures for Ferry County estimated 2.6 million in debris removal, 1.6 million in emergency protective measures, 128 thousand for road and bridge repair, 570 thousand to building and equipment, 3.2 million for utility repair, and 163 thousand for parks and recreation. 7000 people lost power in Ferry County and three major roads were closed for sometime due to downed trees. These roads included Highway 21, 97, and 155. Utility companies estimated 200 downed power poles and 40 miles of line needed restoration. In Okanogan County, estimations of 82 thousand in debris removal, 36 thousand in emergency protective measures, 180 thousand for road and bridge repair, 419 thousand to building and equipment, 364 thousand for utility repair, and 25 thousand for parks and recreation. Cumulative figures indicated a total of 8.4 million for Ferry and 1.1 million for Okanogan. Due to the complexity and magnitude of this event, Appendix B was utilized to estimate individual costs for each event. Cumulative figures listed in the Episode narrative would be more representative of the actual event. Some reports stated that private weather instruments at residents' houses recorded winds between 80 and 100 mph.
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 Spokane, WA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 20, 11:14 AM PST, 21 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1214 PM PDT Fri Jul 20 2012
.SYNOPSIS...
Expect a significant round of thunderstorms by this afternoon and
evening as a strong low pressure system lifts through the region.
Some of the storms could be severe and produce large hail...damaging
winds...and very heavy rains. By the weekend the weather will dry
out for most locations. Another upper level low will cross the
region Sunday night and Monday resulting in a chance of showers
for locations north of highway 2. The low will exit by Tuesday
afternoon with dry and seasonably warm weather to follow.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
There will be a few updates to the forecast this
afternoon...mainly to make adjustment to reflect reality. this
will not change the forecast much. This will still be an active
thunderstorms day with the potential for severe thunderstorms. We
have issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch from now through 800 pm
this evening. In addition there is a Flash Flood Watch out for a
large portion of eastern Washington through 1100 pm tonight. These
could very well be dangerous storms and people should be on alert
for rapidly building thunderstorms. /Tobin
&&
.AVIATION...
18Z TAFS: The lull in the convection will be short lived as the
thunderstorm threat increases after 20z. A vigorous upper level
disturbance will push into the region from the southwest and ignite
convection...starting in the KEAT...KMWH and KLWS area and pushing
northeast through the afternoon. There is the potential for strong
to severe storms with gusty winds...heavy rain and hail for a 1-2 hr
period at each of the TAF sites. The convection will decrease after
00z and linger in the northern and panhanhandle mountains through
03z. Conditions will stabilize in the wake of the storms...leaving
VFR conditions and lighter winds through the night. /rfox
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Spokane 82 58 80 58 84 57 / 80 50 0 0 0 20
Coeur d'Alene 82 57 78 54 83 57 / 80 70 0 0 0 20
Pullman 80 53 80 51 82 54 / 80 20 0 0 10 20
Lewiston 91 63 90 62 91 63 / 80 10 0 0 10 20
Colville 87 57 82 54 86 56 / 80 80 10 0 10 20
Sandpoint 81 56 77 50 83 54 / 80 80 10 0 10 30
Kellogg 84 57 78 54 85 55 / 80 50 10 0 10 30
Moses Lake 84 59 84 57 86 57 / 60 10 0 0 0 10
Wenatchee 84 62 85 61 83 60 / 80 10 0 0 10 10
Omak 84 58 83 56 84 57 / 80 40 0 0 10 20
&&
.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...Flash Flood Watch until 11 PM PDT this evening for Central
Panhandle Mountains-Coeur d'Alene Area-Idaho Palouse-
Northern Panhandle.
SEVERE THUNDERStorm Watch until 8 PM PDT this evening for
Central Panhandle Mountains-Coeur d'Alene Area-Idaho
Palouse-Lewis and Southern Nez Perce Counties-Lewiston Area-
Northern Panhandle.
WA...Flash Flood Watch until 11 PM PDT this evening for Northeast
Mountains-Okanogan Highlands-Okanogan Valley-Spokane Area-
Upper Columbia Basin-Waterville Plateau.
SEVERE THUNDERStorm Watch until 8 PM PDT this evening for East
Slopes Northern Cascades-Lower Garfield and Asotin Counties-
Moses Lake Area-Northeast Blue Mountains-Northeast
Mountains-Okanogan Highlands-Okanogan Valley-Spokane Area-
Upper Columbia Basin-Washington Palouse-Waterville Plateau-
Wenatchee Area.
Flash Flood Watch until 5 PM PDT this afternoon for East Slopes
Northern Cascades-Wenatchee Area.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA 549 AM PDT FRI JUL 20 2012 IDZ001>004-026-027-WAZ031>038-041>044-211300- NORTHERN PANHANDLE-COEUR D'ALENE AREA-IDAHO PALOUSE- CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-LEWISTON AREA- LEWIS AND SOUTHERN NEZ PERCE COUNTIES-NORTHEAST BLUE MOUNTAINS- LOWER GARFIELD AND ASOTIN COUNTIES-WASHINGTON PALOUSE- MOSES LAKE AREA-UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN-SPOKANE AREA- NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-WENATCHEE AREA- EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES-OKANOGAN VALLEY-WATERVILLE PLATEAU- 549 AM PDT FRI JUL 20 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH IDAHO... NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO...CENTRAL WASHINGTON...EAST CENTRAL WASHINGTON...NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON...NORTHEAST WASHINGTON AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL LIFT THROUGH THE REGION TODAY LEADING TO A GOOD CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS REGION-WIDE. SOME STORMS BETWEEN NOON AND 7PM WILL BE STRONG TO SEVERE CAPABLE OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...LARGE HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1134 AM PDT FRI JUL 20 2012
WAZ042-201930-
OKANOGAN WA-CHELAN WA-
1134 AM PDT FRI JUL 20 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
NORTH CENTRAL CHELAN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON
WEST CENTRAL OKANOGAN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON
UNTIL 1230 PM PDT
AT 1130 AM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR STEHEKIN..MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH...OVER THE
NORTHERN PORTION OF LAKE CHELAN.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MAZAMA...
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 4870 12017 4822 12058 4829 12088 4852 12077
4853 12071 4856 12072 4857 12069 4858 12074
4879 12063
TIME...MOT...LOC 1834Z 200DEG 27KT 4836 12066
RFOX.RFOXSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1219 PM PDT FRI JUL 20 2012
IDZ026-027-WAZ031-032-202000-
NEZ PERCE ID-ASOTIN WA-
1219 PM PDT FRI JUL 20 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
WEST CENTRAL NEZ PERCE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO
EASTERN ASOTIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON
UNTIL 100 PM PDT
AT 1213 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 27 MILES SOUTH OF LEWISTON..MOVING NORTH AT 30
MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG
WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. A FLASH FLOOD
WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 PM FOR ASOTIN COUNTY.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LEWISTON AND CLARKSTON...
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN
EFFECT FOR THIS AREA. BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV
STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 4642 11709 4644 11704 4645 11677 4599 11701
4599 11727 4600 11728
TIME...MOT...LOC 1917Z 196DEG 27KT 4605 11712
JWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1222 PM PDT FRI JUL 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1210 PM HAIL WSW ANATONE 46.13N 117.13W
07/20/2012 E0.50 INCH ASOTIN WA TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER AT ANATONE POST OFFICE REPORTED DIME SIZE HAIL
AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
&&
RFLIEHMAThe Pendleton radar (KPDT), 137 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:35 UTC.
20 thunderstorm wind, 7 hail, 4 flash flood, 1 debris flow. Local standard time, as filed.
Park Ranger reported water out of ditches and over roads. Road damage due to the water.
Measured at the Vantage Washington DOT sensor.
A washout occurred along Lower Crab Creek Road.
Hail broke one window and caused window trim from five other windows to break off. The hail also damaged corn and alfalfa fields as well.
Caller reported quarter size hail and very heavy rain which resulted in localized urban flooding.
A large tree branch fell onto two cars near the intersection of Wall and Maxwell Streets.
City Hall had to be sandbagged due to water flowing into the building.
Trees were blown down on West Ridge Drive.
Public reported a few trees completely blown down. Numerous tree limbs were snapped off trees that remain standing.
Several dirt roads and driveways were washed out along D-Rez Loop Road. State Route 155 was shut down for a short time at Milepost 59 due to undercutting of the roadway.
Nespelem School reported a downed tree roughly 10 to 12 inches in diameter. The tree fell on and damaged a dumpster.
One large tree and some smaller trees were blown down onto Highway 155.
Numerous trees were blown down in the town of Keller. Several trees fell onto houses causing significant damage.
Law Enforcement reported trees down on Manilla Creek Road.
Hundreds of trees were blown down in the area. Multiple trees landed on houses.
Trees were blown down on Silver Creek Road.
The Post Office building sustained roof damage. Rain entered the office lobby and resulted in minor water damage. Dime size hail was also reported with the storm.
Trees and power lines were down on Highway 21.
Trees and power lines were down on Cache Creek Road.
Numerous large trees and power lines were blown down in and around Republic between 4 PM and 430 PM. Trees fell on a houses and blocked Highway 20 for a period of time.
A woman was killed by a falling tree while camping along Trout Creek.
Numerous trees were blown down on State Route 20 at Sherman Pass. The highway was temporarily closed.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power lines temporarily blocking Highway 395.
Several trees were blown down from thunderstorm winds.
Thunderstorm winds blew down a 50 year old pine tree. Two to four foot waves were observed on Lake Curlew.
A tree was blown down and landed on a house. Several other trees were blown down at the adjacent campground.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, July 2012
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: 394651, 394662, 394652, 394656, 398205, 394657, 394658, 394659, 395529, 394663, 394660, 394661, 394653, 394664, 394665, 394655, 394666, 394667, 394668, 394669, 394670, 394671, 394672, 394674, 394675, 394677, 394699, 394700, 394701, 394702, 394703, 394715.