A moderately unstable warm southerly flow of moisture allowed thunderstorms to develop that moved rather quickly to the north at 25 mph. A few of the thunderstorms downdrafts resulted in power lines and trees down in the Spokane Area.
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.
A moderately unstable warm southerly flow of moisture allowed thunderstorms to develop that moved rather quickly to the north at 25 mph. A few of the thunderstorms downdrafts resulted in power lines and trees down in the Spokane Area.
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 May 4, 9:45 PM PST, 1 hour 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Spokane WA 1045 PM PDT WED MAY 4 2016 .SYNOPSIS... Several rounds of showers and storms will be possible across the region tonight and into Thursday. Some storms will be capable of heavy rainfall...hail...and gusty winds. Improving but breezy conditions will begin on Friday, lasting through the weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Updates to published forecast for the next 6 hours or so has been published to reflect the area of showers and thunderstorms moving up from the south this evening through Adams...Whitman and imminently into Spokane and Lincoln Counties. While these storms were severe earlier this evening over Oregon...spotter reports as they crossed into the Spokane CWA suggests they are now more tame...although still capable of brief heavy rain and wind gusts to 40 mph as they track northward through the basin this evening. Radar suggest an outflow boundary pushing ahead of the shower mass currently over north Whitman county and may bring 30 to 40 mph wind gusts to the Spokane area between 11 pm and 1130 pm. The whole area of showers and isolated thunderstorms will track north through Spokane and into the Northeast mountains through tonight...although embedded thunderstorms will become less common but still present through the night. /Fugazzi && .AVIATION... 06Z TAFS: Focus of 06Z TAFs is timing and impact of imminent gust front. Doppler velocities tracking in the 50 to 60 kt range, headed for GEG. Impacts expected to be less at SFF and COE. Will need ammendments to address rest of forecast after the gust front passes. JL && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Spokane 55 73 52 76 54 81 / 60 60 50 10 10 0 Coeur d'Alene 52 74 49 74 50 81 / 60 60 50 10 10 10 Pullman 51 70 48 74 49 79 / 40 50 50 10 10 10 Lewiston 56 76 52 79 54 84 / 20 40 50 20 10 10 Colville 50 71 45 79 47 85 / 60 70 50 10 10 0 Sandpoint 50 72 45 72 44 79 / 60 60 50 20 10 0 Kellogg 49 74 44 72 44 79 / 50 50 50 30 20 10 Moses Lake 53 75 49 81 53 87 / 70 40 20 10 0 0 Wenatchee 55 74 53 81 57 87 / 60 40 20 10 10 0 Omak 54 72 48 80 53 85 / 50 60 30 10 0 0 && .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ID...None. WA...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service SPOKANE WA 552 AM PDT WED MAY 4 2016 WAZ038-041>044-051300- OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-WENATCHEE AREA-EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES- OKANOGAN VALLEY-WATERVILLE PLATEAU- 552 AM PDT WED MAY 4 2016 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Central Washington and North Central Washington. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Thunderstorms capable of heavy downpours and small hail will be possible this afternoon into tonight. Storm motion will be to north between 20 and 30 mph however if multiple storms pass over recent burn scars...there is a potential for debris flows and flash floods. Those with outdoor plans or living near 2015 burn scars are urged to have an adequate means to receive weather warnings. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY Thunderstorms capable of heavy downpours and small hail will be possible again Thursday afternoon. IDZ003-026-WAZ032>035-051300- IDAHO PALOUSE-LEWISTON AREA-LOWER GARFIELD AND ASOTIN COUNTIES- WASHINGTON PALOUSE-MOSES LAKE AREA-UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN- 552 AM PDT WED MAY 4 2016 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Idaho... North Central Idaho...East Central Washington and Southeast Washington. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Scattered thunderstorms will be possible overnight. Some storms will be capable of brief heavy downpours and gusty winds. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY Isolated thunderstorms are possible late Thursday afternoon and evening. At this time, the risk is low however any storms that develop will have the potential to be strong capable of small hail...gusty winds...and heavy downpours. IDZ001-002-004-027-WAZ031-036-037-051245- NORTHERN PANHANDLE-COEUR D'ALENE AREA-CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS- LEWIS AND SOUTHERN NEZ PERCE COUNTIES-NORTHEAST BLUE MOUNTAINS- SPOKANE AREA-NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS- 544 AM PDT WED MAY 4 2016 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Idaho... North Central Idaho...Northeast Washington and Southeast Washington. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT No hazardous weather is expected today and tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY Isolated strong Thunderstorms will be possible Thursday afternoon and evening. These storms will be capable of small to moderate hail...gusty winds...heavy rainfall...and frequent lightning. Those with outdoor plans or living near 2015 burn scars are urged to have an adequate means to receive weather warnings. $$
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA 1012 PM PDT WED MAY 4 2016 WAZ033-035-036-050615- UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN WA-WASHINGTON PALOUSE WA-SPOKANE AREA WA- 1012 PM PDT WED MAY 4 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN LINCOLN... NORTHEASTERN ADAMS...SOUTHWESTERN SPOKANE AND NORTH CENTRAL WHITMAN COUNTIES UNTIL 1115 PM PDT... AT 1010 PM PDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMGUSTFRONT ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 13 MILES NORTHEAST OF RITZVILLE TO 20 MILES NORTH OF COLFAX. MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 30 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS GUST FRONT. THUNDERSTORMS WITH BRIEF HEAVY RAIN MAY ACCOMPANY THIS FRONT. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... SPOKANE...CHENEY...AIRWAY HEIGHTS...MEDICAL LAKE...DAVENPORT...DISHMAN... FAIRCHILD AFB...REARDAN...ROSALIA...SPRAGUE...HARRINGTON...SPANGLE... MALDEN...WAVERLY...MARSHALL...MONDOVI...ROCKLYN...GRAVELLES...ELEANOR AND WAUKON. THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS AND AVAILABLE TELEVISION STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. LAT...LON 4778 11833 4766 11722 4716 11722 4726 11829 TIME...MOT...LOC 0510Z 163DEG 35KT 4729 11821 4718 11729 MF
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1116 PM PDT WED MAY 04 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1114 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 W AIRWAY HEIGHTS 47.64N 117.60W
05/04/2016 SPOKANE WA PUBLIC
REPORTS OF TREES DOWN WEST OF AIRWAY HEIGHTS VIA SOCIAL
MEDIA
&&
AKALINSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1135 PM PDT WED MAY 4 2016
IDZ001-004-050715-
CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS ID-NORTHERN PANHANDLE ID-
1135 PM PDT WED MAY 4 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN KOOTENAI AND
SOUTHWESTERN BONNER COUNTIES UNTIL 1215 AM PDT...
AT 1134 PM PDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A GUST FRONT NEAR SPIRIT
LAKE...OR 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF RATHDRUM...MOVING NORTH AT 35 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SPIRIT LAKE...ATHOL...BAYVIEW...LACLEDE...COCOLALLA...BLANCHARD AND
CAREYWOOD.
LAT...LON 4813 11641 4785 11662 4788 11662 4789 11665
4789 11675 4785 11683 4787 11704 4817 11703
TIME...MOT...LOC 0634Z 201DEG 49KT 4794 11700
MFSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1151 PM PDT WED MAY 4 2016
IDZ001-WAZ037-050745-
NORTHERN PANHANDLE ID-NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS WA-
1151 PM PDT WED MAY 4 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL BONNER...SOUTHEASTERN
FERRY...CENTRAL STEVENS AND SOUTHERN PEND OREILLE COUNTIES UNTIL 1245
AM PDT...
AT 1150 PM PDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A THUNDERSTORM GUST
FRONT ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CHEWELAH TO
NEAR ATHOL.
MOVEMENT WAS NORTH AT 30 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SANDPOINT...PRIEST RIVER...COLVILLE...CHEWELAH...NEWPORT...PONDERAY...
KOOTENAI...DOVER...EAST HOPE...KETTLE FALLS...CUSICK...OLDTOWN...HOPE...
SOUTH SKOOKUM LAKE CAMPGROUND...SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN...GIFFORD...BEAD
LAKE CAMPGROUND...ORIN...RUBY AND ADDY.
LAT...LON 4840 11612 4806 11640 4821 11817 4824 11814
4829 11816 4864 11811
TIME...MOT...LOC 0650Z 169DEG 26KT 4812 11796 4793 11664
MFPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1159 PM PDT WED MAY 04 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1156 PM TSTM WND DMG SPOKANE 47.67N 117.41W
05/04/2016 SPOKANE WA PUBLIC
POWER LINE DOWN NEAR SHARP AND ATLANTIC VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
&&
AKALINThe Spokane radar (KOTX), 3 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:11 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A member of the public reported trees down west of Airway Heights, Washington.
A member of the public reported power lines down near Sharp and Atlantic in downtown Spokane, Washington.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, May 2016
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: 622758, 622757.