Moist and unstable southerly flow over eastern Washington ahead of an offshore upper level low pressure promoted the development of thunderstorms during the afternoon of June 26th over eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle. While numerous reports of 45 to 55 mph wind gusts and some reports of dime sized hail were received, a few of these storms over southeastern Washington became severe…
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The episode as NWS OTX wrote it up.
Moist and unstable southerly flow over eastern Washington ahead of an offshore upper level low pressure promoted the development of thunderstorms during the afternoon of June 26th over eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle. While numerous reports of 45 to 55 mph wind gusts and some reports of dime sized hail were received, a few of these storms over southeastern Washington became severe with reports of downed trees and power lines in the Lewiston/Clarkston 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 Jun 26, 12:57 PM PST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Spokane WA 157 PM PDT Wed Jun 26 2019 .SYNOPSIS... Active weather continues this evening with showers and thunderstorm region wide. Thunderstorms will be capable of producing frequent lightning, gusty winds, heavy rain, and hail. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to linger Thursday into Friday before a brief warming and drying trend arrives over the weekend aside for lingering mountain showers. A return to cooler and unsettled weather is forecast for early next week. && .DISCUSSION... Tonight: Expect active weather this evening as rounds of thunderstorms moves northward across the Inland NW. This is in response to a cutoff low off the WA coast and the moist southerly flow east of the Cascades. Surface based instability has lead to showers and thunderstorms over the mountains, although a shortwave rotating from Oregon into eastern WA will be the focus for strong to potentially severe thunderstorms moving into the Columbia Basin late this afternoon and to the northern mountains this evening. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 8PM this evening for the risk of large hail and damaging outflow winds from these storms. Expect wind to switch from east to southeast to the southwest to west this evening with a burst of breezy winds. Anticipate wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph but higher gusts are possible with the stronger storms. Additional threats include heavy downpours from the stronger storms and frequent lightning. The storm tracks will be the north around 20 mph across the Cascades and northeast 25 mph across southeast Washington into north Idaho. The thunderstorm and gusty wind threat will ease overnight from the south, although the rain showers will continue overnight. Thursday through Friday night: Little change is expected with the position of the upper low as it wobbles over western Washington and minor shortwaves rotating around the circulation. The atmosphere will be cooler Thursday into Friday, but still moist and unstable with surface based instability on the rise by the afternoon hours. Instability values for Thursday look to be less than for today with garden variety thunderstorms with brief downpours and gusty winds across mainly over the mountains. The showers and thunderstorm chances decrease slightly Thursday night, but return again on Friday as the upper level low lingers near the Cascade crest. The chance for showers and thunderstorms returns across north central Washington into north Idaho Friday afternoon and early evening. West to southwest winds increase Friday afternoon across the Columbia Basin. /rfox. Saturday and Sunday: High Pressure of the country will keep a weakening Low circling around the coast and bringing weak pulses of instability and moisture through the weekend. This is expected to bring small chances of precip to the Cascades and the northern mountains. An isolated afternoon thunderstorm is possible. The rest of the region can expect fairly quiet condtions with light winds and mostly clear skies. Temperatures will be on the rise. Highs expected to be in the mid 70s to low 80s. Lows will be in the range of the 50s. For the start of next week, the models are not not in good agreement with what to do with the Low. The GFS carries through WA delivering widespread precip on Monday and Tuesday. The ECMWF is holding off on the Low moving until Tuesday. Either way, Inland Northwest is expected to get a decent chance of precip for the start of the week. Highs will be in the 80s. Lows will be in the 50s. /JDC && .AVIATION... 18Z TAFS: It still looks like an active afternoon and evening for thunderstorms. Every TAF site will be effected. Surface based convection should kick off over the mountains, but the better chances will arrive with the disturbance which will initiate strong thunder over NE Oregon and shift it N through the end of the forecast period. The thunder should hit LWS and PUW first around 00z or so and then take a couple more hours to spread across the remaining TAFS. Strong wind gusts are the greatest threat. It's conceivable winds in excess of 50 mph are possible for LWS and PUW with a lesser chance for the GEG-SFF-COE corridor as well as MWH. The storms would also produce heavy rains and maybe some small hail. The boundary layer moistens considerably from these thunderstorms and could anticipate MVFR conditions developing overnight at KGEG/KSFF/KCOE/KPUW. Will see improving conditions to VFR by Thursday morning will south to southwest winds. /rfox. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Spokane 53 70 47 70 47 74 / 60 40 20 20 10 10 Coeur d'Alene 53 69 47 69 47 73 / 70 70 30 20 10 10 Pullman 49 66 45 66 46 72 / 70 30 30 10 10 10 Lewiston 55 73 52 73 53 79 / 50 60 40 20 20 10 Colville 46 76 39 75 38 75 / 60 90 50 20 30 10 Sandpoint 52 68 46 68 46 71 / 60 70 40 20 20 10 Kellogg 53 67 49 67 49 71 / 70 60 40 20 20 10 Moses Lake 53 76 48 75 49 79 / 70 20 10 10 0 10 Wenatchee 55 72 53 72 53 75 / 90 60 20 40 10 10 Omak 57 73 49 72 48 75 / 70 70 50 40 30 20 && .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ID...None. WA...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Spokane WA 522 AM PDT Wed Jun 26 2019 IDZ003-004-026-027-WAZ031>033-271230- Idaho Palouse-Central Panhandle Mountains-Lewiston Area- Lewis and Southern Nez Perce Counties-Northeast Blue Mountains- Lower Garfield and Asotin Counties-Washington Palouse- 522 AM PDT Wed Jun 26 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Idaho... North Central Idaho and Southeast Washington. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Scattered strong thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. A few storms may become severe and be capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, frequent lightning, and torrential rain. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY No hazardous weather is expected at this time. IDZ001-002-WAZ034>038-041>044-271230- Northern Panhandle-Coeur d'Alene Area-Moses Lake Area- Upper Columbia Basin-Spokane Area-Northeast Mountains- Okanogan Highlands-Wenatchee Area-East Slopes Northern Cascades- Okanogan Valley-Waterville Plateau- 522 AM PDT Wed Jun 26 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Idaho... Central Washington...East Central Washington...North Central Washington and Northeast Washington. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon in the Cascades before spreading over the remainder of Central and Northeast Washington into the Idaho Panhandle late afternoon and evening. Some strong storms are possible and will be capable of producing wind gusts in excess of 40 MPH, frequent lightning, hail, and torrential rain. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY No hazardous weather is expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Spokane WA
204 PM PDT Wed Jun 26 2019
WAZ031>033-262145-
Northeast Blue Mountains WA-Washington Palouse WA-
Lower Garfield and Asotin Counties WA-
204 PM PDT Wed Jun 26 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN GARFIELD AND SOUTHERN
WHITMAN COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM PDT...
At 203 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Turner, or 13 miles northeast of Dayton, moving northeast at 30 mph.
Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Pomeroy, Riparia, Hay, Dusty, Wawawai, Dodge, La Crosse, Almota and
Mayview.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM PDT for
eastern and southeastern Washington.
LAT...LON 4634 11767 4638 11768 4640 11772 4647 11774
4647 11786 4662 11785 4658 11790 4659 11802
4655 11812 4655 11817 4657 11820 4692 11788
4665 11714
TIME...MOT...LOC 2103Z 217DEG 26KT 4647 11780
SBSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Spokane WA
217 PM PDT Wed Jun 26 2019
WAZ031-262200-
Northeast Blue Mountains WA-
217 PM PDT Wed Jun 26 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL GARFIELD AND
SOUTHWESTERN ASOTIN COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM PDT...
At 217 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles north of Troy, or 29 miles southeast of Dayton, moving
east at 20 mph.
Penny size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Misery Spring Campground, Spruce Spring Campground and Wickiup
Campground.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM PDT for
southeastern Washington.
LAT...LON 4600 11759 4618 11761 4624 11719 4603 11716
4600 11723
TIME...MOT...LOC 2117Z 233DEG 26KT 4609 11747
SBThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A member of the public reported large tree branches and power lines down in Clarkston.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, June 2019
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: 833845.