A strong wave pushed through the region on March 27 bringing scattered convection to Northeast Washington. A strong gust front from a collapsing thunderstorm brought high winds up tot 67 MPH and downed several trees in the southern Stevens County, southern Pend Oreille, and North Spokane counties.
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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 strong wave pushed through the region on March 27 bringing scattered convection to Northeast Washington. A strong gust front from a collapsing thunderstorm brought high winds up tot 67 MPH and downed several trees in the southern Stevens County, southern Pend Oreille, and North Spokane counties.
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 Mar 26, 8:55 PM PST, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Spokane WA 955 PM PDT Wed Mar 26 2025 .SYNOPSIS... The heat will come to an end today with the potential for strong to isolated severe thunderstorms this evening. Cooler and unsettled weather will occur Thursday through early next week with several rounds of showers, with snow returning to the mountains. && .DISCUSSION... Wednesday: The Inland Northwest is currently under a deep southerly to southwesterly flow aloft as a strong low pressure system off the coast moves onshore and the upper level ridge amplifies and shifts eastward. As of 3PM, temperatures across the region are in the 60s and 70s. Pullman is currently 73F, which smashes their daily record of 65, Spokane is currently 70F, which breaks their record of 67F, Lewiston is 75F, which breaks their record of 71F. Temperatures will continue to warm through the rest of the afternoon. We are still monitoring the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms this evening and overnight, but overall confidence for the Inland Northwest is low. As expected, the surface instability (SBCAPE of 500 to 1000 J/kg) is currently capped by -150 to -50 J/kg of convective inhibition (CIN). The strongest forcing this afternoon remains west of the Cascades with convection beginning to initiate in the Portland and Seattle forecast areas. Timing for the best lift and convection initiation remains similar to previous forecasts. For eastern Washington and North Idaho, the bulk of the convection looks to hold off until after 7 PM, moving in from the south. By this time, SBCAPE will begin to wane and become more elevated. There is high confidence for scattered thunderstorms to track across central Washington and isolated thunderstorms across far eastern Washington and north Idaho this evening into the overnight hours. With the best instability aloft by this time, strong 0-6 km shear between 45 to 65 knots would support isolated severe thunderstorms with a 5 to 14% chance. CAMs continue to focus the bulk of the convection across central Washington and tracking into the Okanogan Highlands between 8PM and 1AM, which is where the best lift and shear exists, but with lower MUCAPE. If any severe thunderstorms do materialize, the primary hazard would be strong wind gusts as the thunderstorm collapses. Further east, while stronger MUCAPE is forecasted earlier in the evening, thinking that convection will struggle to fire off given the amount of CIN in place. If something were to develop, quarter sized hail and gusty winds will be the primary hazards. The potential for strong to severe thunderstorms will decrease after 2AM, but the threat for showers and general thunderstorms will continue through the night and into the early morning. Thursday: The cold front limps through the Inland Northwest overnight and will bring continued unsettled weather and cool temperatures by 15 to 20 degrees. Cooler surface temperatures will decrease the overall buoyancy and instability tomorrow, but lapse rates will continue to be steep as cooler temperatures aloft move into the region. Scattered thunderstorms will reemerge tomorrow afternoon, with some CAMs suggesting isolated strong thunderstorms in the Columbia Basin, although this is an outlier at the moment. Snow levels falling to 5000-5500 feet in the Cascades will allow for high mountain snow with these showers. /vmt Friday through Tuesday: Overall, the pattern will remain unsettled and spring like through the middle of next week. Weak shortwaves will pass over the region almost every day, bringing widespread showers to the area. Sunday will be the only day we see a break in precipitation before additional shortwaves move through. Rain amounts will remain on the lighter side in the lower elevations, whereas snow will fall at elevations generally above 4500 feet. Any snow amounts do remain light over the passes, with the sun angle helping melt off any snow during the daytime. The gradient will tighten Friday, which will being windier conditions to the Columbia Basin and Waterville Plateau, with gusts of 30-35 mph with local higher gusts. Winds will begin to decrease after sunset. Otherwise the rest of the extended forecast appears to have light winds. Temperatures through this period will be right around normal in the 50s, with a few places reaching 60s down in the southern portion of our CWA. Overnight low will vary depending on cloud cover, ranging from the low 30s to the low 40s. /KK && .AVIATION... 06Z TAFS: Storms are beginning to move into the region. With the loss of daytime heating, the chances of strong or severe storms is very low. But, we will still see some elevated showers with lightning through the night. Have also added LLWS to GEG/SFF from 09-15Z. The weather will remain unsettled on Thursday with mid morning and afternoon/evening showers and thunderstorms and breezy southwest winds. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND/OR ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: Given the isolated to scattered nature of thunderstorms included a PROB30 group for all TAF sites. Gusty winds are the main threats for each TAF site, although brief heavy rain is also possible. ----------------------- Confidence descriptors: Low - Less than a 30 percent chance Moderate - 30 to 70 percent chance High - Greater than a 70 percent chance && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Spokane 49 59 43 54 37 53 / 50 40 70 80 30 30 Coeur d'Alene 47 58 40 52 37 52 / 50 60 70 90 50 40 Pullman 47 58 43 52 36 50 / 20 60 60 90 40 30 Lewiston 52 66 48 60 42 57 / 10 50 40 80 50 30 Colville 42 58 37 53 35 53 / 60 70 80 90 50 50 Sandpoint 45 55 40 49 38 50 / 70 60 80 100 70 70 Kellogg 50 58 43 49 39 47 / 40 70 70 100 50 60 Moses Lake 49 62 44 59 36 59 / 50 50 60 20 0 0 Wenatchee 48 58 44 56 37 56 / 80 40 70 30 10 10 Omak 47 61 43 59 37 58 / 80 60 80 70 30 20 && .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ID...None. WA...None. &&
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Spokane WA
1107 PM PDT Wed Mar 26 2025
WAZ033-035-270630-
Upper Columbia Basin WA-Washington Palouse WA-
1107 PM PDT Wed Mar 26 2025
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Adams,
south central Lincoln and north central Whitman Counties through 1130
PM PDT...
At 1106 PM PDT, trained weather spotters reported a strong
thunderstorm 7 miles west northwest of Ritzville, moving northeast
at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Trained weather spotters.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Lamona, Ralston, Mohler, Marcellus, Marengo, Tokio, Revere,
Harrington, Packard, Schoonover, Ritzville, and Paha.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 90 in Washington between mile markers 213 and 244.
U.S. Highway 395 in Washington between mile markers 88 and 96.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4688 11839 4730 11868 4758 11823 4701 11776
TIME...MOT...LOC 0606Z 236DEG 40KT 4711 11828
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
ASSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Spokane WA
1129 PM PDT Wed Mar 26 2025
WAZ035>038-270700-
Spokane Area WA-Upper Columbia Basin WA-Northeast Mountains WA-
Okanogan Highlands WA-
1129 PM PDT Wed Mar 26 2025
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northern Adams,
Lincoln, southwestern Stevens, southeastern Ferry and southwestern
Spokane Counties through MIDNIGHT PDT...
At 1129 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Davenport, or 30 miles west of Cheney, moving northeast at 60 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph, and some lightning.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Mohler, Harrington, Govan, Gravelles, Cedonia, Tyler, Mondovi,
Medical Lake, Rocklyn, Fairchild AFB, Eleanor, Sherman, Bluestem,
Davenport, Deep Creek, Waukon, Lincoln, Cheney, Little Falls Dam, and
Four Lakes.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 90 in Washington between mile markers 251 and 279.
U.S. Highway 2 in Washington between mile markers 214 and 283.
U.S. Highway 195 in Washington between mile markers 86 and 91.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4722 11831 4772 11888 4831 11816 4753 11734
TIME...MOT...LOC 0629Z 225DEG 51KT 4760 11821
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
ASSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Spokane WA
1207 AM PDT Thu Mar 27 2025
WAZ035>037-270730-
Spokane Area WA-Upper Columbia Basin WA-Northeast Mountains WA-
1207 AM PDT Thu Mar 27 2025
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern
Lincoln, southern Stevens, central Spokane and southwestern Pend
Oreille Counties through 1230 AM PDT...
At 1207 AM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northwest of Fairchild AFB, or 15 miles west of Spokane, moving
northeast at 65 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph, some lightning possible.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Gravelles, Fairwood, Chewelah, Tyler, Mondovi, Spokane, Medical Lake,
Suncrest, Fairchild AFB, Deer Park, Eleanor, Deep Creek, Waukon,
Springdale, Little Falls Dam, Four Lakes, Trentwood, Reardan,
Marshall, and Airway Heights.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 90 in Washington between mile markers 253 and 290.
U.S. Highway 2 in Washington between mile markers 254 and 310.
U.S. Highway 195 in Washington between mile markers 92 and 95.
U.S. Highway 395 in Washington between mile markers 165 and 211.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4737 11790 4796 11829 4837 11770 4772 11712
TIME...MOT...LOC 0707Z 220DEG 54KT 4773 11774
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
ASThe Spokane radar (KOTX), 34 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:24 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
NWS Employee observed damage. Few dead trees down and over wire fences. Time estimated by radar.
WSDOT reported multiple trees down on US 395 between the two roundabouts near Deer Park. Time estimated by radar archive.
WSDOT reported trees blocking State Route 292. Time estimated by archived radar data.
Deer Park Airport weather station recorded a max gusts of 67 mph.
NWS employee observed tree leaning over North Milan Elk Road. Time estimated by radar.
WSDOT report of trees down on State Route 206. Time estimated by radar archive.
WSDOT reported downed tree on US 2 and car versus tree collision due to downed tree. Time estimated by radar archive.
WSDOT report of tree partially blocking U.S. 2 near Diamond Lake.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, March 2025
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: 1249688, 1249689, 1249692, 1249706, 1249693, 1249695, 1249699, 1249702.