A shortwave trough's arrival led to tightening pressure gradients and gusty winds in eastern Washington on April 13th. Daytime winds reached gusts in the range of 30-40 mph across the Waterville Plateau, Moses Lake Area, and Upper Columbia Basin.
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The episode as NWS OTX wrote it up.
A shortwave trough's arrival led to tightening pressure gradients and gusty winds in eastern Washington on April 13th. Daytime winds reached gusts in the range of 30-40 mph across the Waterville Plateau, Moses Lake Area, and Upper Columbia Basin. Fields were in the season where top soil is more easily blown around, drought conditions persist, and little recent rainfall across this area. These conditions, with the strong winds, led to widespread blowing dust across the Columbia Basin.
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 Apr 13, 4:30 AM PST, 4 hours 46 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
530 AM PDT Tue Apr 13 2021
.SYNOPSIS...
Northeast winds gusting up to 45 mph today will produce areas of
blowing dust in central Washington and the potential for scattered
power outages to portions of north Idaho. Breezy winds will
linger into Wednesday. Then, anticipate a warming trend with
lighter winds into the weekend with a good chance of 70 degree
temperatures.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
...DRY, WINDY, AND DUSTY CONDITIONS TODAY...
Today: Meteorological conditions are setting up for a dry and
windy day. The Inland Northwest will be sandwiched between
Canadian high pressure banked against the Continental Divide in
Montana and deep low pressure over the Great Basin. As of 2 AM,
the pressure gradient between the Canadian border and northern
Oregon continued to tighten. Surface analysis indicated pressure
rises in southern BC and pressure falls over Oregon with about a
10mb difference between Bonners Ferry and Tri Cities. The models
maintain the tight gradient through mid to late afternoon.
Forecast soundings suggest the potential for 35 to 40 mph of wind
within the lowest 2000 ft of the atmosphere as boundary layer
warms warms and supports downward transport of momentum to the
surface. Our current forecast of 40 to 45 mph gusts for the Upper
Columbia Basin, Moses Lake area, and Waterville Plateau looks
reasonable. Localized gusts of 40 to 50 mph will also be possible
along the Highway 95 corridor in north Idaho where northeast winds
channel down the Purcell Trench between Sandpoint, Rathdrum, and
Post Falls. Blowing dust, scattered tree damage, elevated grass
fire potential, and rough lakes continue to be a concern with our
dry and windy forecast for today.
*Blowing Dust: March and April have been unusually dry across
central and eastern Washington. Potatoes, onions, barley, and
spring wheat are currently being planted in dry fields. A Blowing
Dust Advisory is in effect today into early this evening for the
Upper Columbia Basin, Moses Lake area, and the Waterville Plateau
where we anticipate sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts up
to 45 mph. Localized visibility reductions of a half mile or less
will be likely from late morning into early evening in the
vicinity of freshly planted or worked fields.
*Tree Damage and Power Outages: We expect some of the highest wind
gusts to occur in north Idaho where northeast winds channel
through the Purcell Trench from Sandpoint to Rathdrum to Post
Falls. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph will have the potential to
produce scattered power outages there. Gusts of 40 to 45 mph
around Moses Lake, Ritzville, Davenport and Wilbur may also cause
some isolated power outages as well.
*Grass Fires: Low and mid elevations with dry grass from last year
may be susceptible to carrying fire. Relative humidity levels
will be unseasonably low this afternoon with 10 to 20 percent
values common. Our fire danger won't be as high as we see in
July, August and early September, but our region doesn't often
experience days like this in April. Ongoing drought and unusually
dry gusty winds have the potential to create unusual conditions
for rapid fire spread this early in the season.
Tonight into Wednesday: Wind gusts are expected to diminish into
the 15 to 25 mph range by 7 or 8 PM as pressure gradients relax.
Sheltered valley locations in north central Washington will be
quite chilly overnight under mostly clear skies. Places like
Republic, Winthrop, and Plain will dip into the upper 20s and low
30s. Wednesday will be another breezy day, but winds won't reach
the magnitude of today's winds. Look for sustained winds in the 15
to 20 mph range with gusts around 30 mph out of the east or
northeast in places like Moses Lake, Ritzville, Davenport, and
Rathdrum. Relative humidity levels will be in the teens again so
grass fires will be a concern again Wednesday.
Thursday: Afternoon temperatures will climb into the 60s with a
handful of low 70s in central Washington on Thursday. These
readings will be about 10 degrees above average. East or northeast
winds are expected to be in the 10 to 20 mph range and skies will
be clear as upper level high pressure settles over the Pacific
Northwest and southern British Columbia. /GKoch
Friday through Sunday: A strong ridge of high pressure over the
region will lead to a warm, dry period for the period. Temperatures
will steadily climb and peak on Sunday with highs to 10 to 15
degrees above normal for this time of year. The breezy winds will
calm as the pressure gradient loosens across the region. Highs will
generally be in the upper 60s and mid 70s. The Central Columbia
Basin could peak to the low 80s on Sunday. Overnight lows will be
in the upper 30s to mid 40s.
Start of Next Week: The models are showing the next low approaching
late Monday. While it is not showing a lot of precip, it breaks down
the ridge and drops the highs temps down into the upper 60s and low
70s. Overnight lows will continue to be upper 30s and low 40s.
Ensembles are showing increases chances of precip for the region
starting midweek. /JDC
&&
.AVIATION...
12Z TAFS: Northeast winds are expected to increase shortly after
sunrise. Moses Lake, Coeur d'Alene, Spokane, Sandpoint, and Deer
Park will likely experience northeast winds gusting between 30 to
35kts from late morning into late afternoon. Dry farm fields in
central Washington are expected to produce dust and limit
visibility to 2 to 5 miles between Moses Lake and Tri Cities this
afternoon. Surface winds will relax between 01-03z allowing the
dust to settle. The only clouds today and tonight will be high,
mainly above 15 thousand feet. /GKoch
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Spokane 54 35 61 37 66 38 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coeur d'Alene 54 33 59 36 63 37 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
Pullman 53 33 58 34 61 37 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
Lewiston 60 36 63 38 66 40 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
Colville 57 32 65 34 69 35 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sandpoint 53 35 58 36 63 36 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kellogg 48 31 53 36 58 38 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
Moses Lake 63 37 69 41 72 43 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wenatchee 61 38 68 41 71 45 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
Omak 63 34 70 39 74 40 / 0 0 0 0 0 0
&&
.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...Wind Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 8 PM PDT this evening
for Coeur d'Alene Area-Northern Panhandle.
WA...Blowing Dust Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 8 PM PDT this
evening for Moses Lake Area-Upper Columbia Basin-Waterville
Plateau.
&&Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Spokane WA 542 AM PDT Tue Apr 13 2021 WAZ034-035-044-141245- Moses Lake Area-Upper Columbia Basin-Waterville Plateau- 542 AM PDT Tue Apr 13 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Central Washington and East Central Washington. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Northeast winds gusting 40 to 45 mph late this morning into the afternoon will produce areas of blowing dust in the Upper Columbia Basin, the Waterville Plateau, and in the Moses Lake area. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY No hazardous weather is expected at this time. IDZ001-002-141245- Northern Panhandle-Coeur d'Alene Area- 542 AM PDT Tue Apr 13 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Idaho. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT North winds channeling down the Purcell Trench will have the potential to gust as high as 45 mph from Sandpoint to Rathdrum to Post Falls from mid morning into the late afternoon. Scattered tree damage and power outages will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY No hazardous weather is expected at this time. IDZ003-004-026-027-WAZ031>033-036>038-041>043-141245- Idaho Palouse-Central Panhandle Mountains-Lewiston Area- Lewis and Southern Nez Perce Counties-Northeast Blue Mountains- Lower Garfield and Asotin Counties-Washington Palouse- Spokane Area-Northeast Mountains-Okanogan Highlands- Wenatchee Area-East Slopes Northern Cascades-Okanogan Valley- 542 AM PDT Tue Apr 13 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Idaho... North Central Idaho...North Central Washington...Northeast Washington and Southeast Washington. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY No hazardous weather is expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
A National Weather Service employee reported blowing dust south of Othello, on State Route 24, with near zero visibility. There were reports from Washington State Patrol of blowing dust across I-90 near Warden and Moses Lake. There were no reports of accidents or injuries.
Strong winds and dry conditions resulted in blowing dust and near zero visibility in southern Adams County. A National Weather Service employee reported blowing dust on US-395 south of Ritzville. There were numerous walls of dust across State Route 26, from Hatton Coulee to Othello, with zero visibility. No known accidents or injuries.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, April 2021
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: 954707, 954706.