Thunderstorm Wind in Washington
Every thunderstorm wind event the National Weather Service has filed in Washington, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
The most significant on the map
The most significant thunderstorm wind episodes in Washington.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 626
- Deaths
- 5
- Injuries
- 35
- Damage
- $26 million
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Dust Storm and Damaging Winds in Washington, August 25, 2013A stationary trough of low pressure along the Pacific Northwest Coastline resulted in moist, unstable, southwesterly flow over the Inland Northwest. A shortwave embedded within the flow, triggered thunderstorms during the afternoon hours of August 25, 2013.
- Damaging Winds and Strong Wind in Washington, May 30, 2020A very warm and moist air mass moved northward from north-central Oregon into eastern Washington on May 30th. With an afternoon of convective heating, there were numerous strong to severe thunderstorms developing and moving across the state during the late afternoon hours.
- Damaging Winds in Washington, December 14, 2010A squall line produced outflow winds with gusts between 45 and 70 mph.
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Washington, May 30, 2020A major severe weather event by Pacific Northwest standards occurred over central and northeast Oregon and southeast Washington on May 30th. A powerful upper level storm system moved across the area during the afternoon and evening helping to trigger severe thunderstorms.
- Debris Flows and Hail in Washington, July 23, 2014A deep trough of low pressure dropped down the Washington Coastline then swung inland into the Inland Northwest during the afternoon of July 23rd. The wave took on a strong negative tilt and moved into a moist and very unstable air mass.
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Washington, June 27, 2001Several severe thunderstorms crossed the Lower Yakima Valley, causing tremendous damage to structures and the area's fruit crops. Hail, combined with high winds, bruised or knocked off many of the region's cherries, apples, pears, and grapes.
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Washington, July 5, 2006Severe thunderstorms resulted in extensive hail damage, flash flooding, and wind damage across portions of Chelan and Okanogan counties. Hail damage was very extensive across both counties with the apple crop hardest hit.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Washington, July 9, 1995Thunderstorms with around golf ball-size hail, high wind and heavy rain caused approximately $25 million in damage throughout the county. Heavy rain also damaged part of the cherry crop.
- Damaging Winds in Washington, August 18, 2008Outflow winds from a thunderstorm caused damage to several trees and knocked down power lines.
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Washington, June 23, 2012An upper level low pressure area off the Oregon coast, combined with daytime heating and a moist southerly flow to produce a line of locally severe thunderstorms across Walla Walla and Columbia counties.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Washington, May 31, 19976 inches of water on streets of ephrata
- Debris Flow and Flooding in Washington, May 14 to 23, 2011An upper level low pressure system moved over the Pacific Northwest. Moist and unstable conditions ahead of the low triggered widespread thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and isolated large hail. This combined with the abundant spring snow-pack and wet ground to cause flooding.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Washington, September 5 to 6, 2013An upper level low pressure system over western Oregon ejected a negatively tilted shortwave trough of lower pressure over the region during the evening hours of September 5th. Precipitable water values were twice the normal value for early September.
- Flooding and Hail in Washington, June 27, 2001Summary of events for June 27 2001:A shortwave moved over the Inland Northwest on the afternoon and evening of June 27. Surface dewpoints in the upper 50s and lower 60s helped scattered thunderstorms to develop and move northeast.
- Damaging Winds in Washington, May 4 to 5, 2016A 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.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Washington, July 20, 2012One 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.
- Damaging Winds in Washington, August 2, 2014A strong upper-level ridge during the end of July and beginning August helped fuel a moist and unstable air mass over the region. The ridge broke down on the 1st of August and was overrun by two weak midlevel impulses on August 2nd.
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Washington, July 4, 2006A severe thunderstorm over western Chelan County blew down several trees and also caused damage to road signs. Severe crop damage also occurred with the winter pear crop having the worst damage.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Washington, August 12, 2005A Canadian cold front moved across northeast Washington during the early afternoon hours of the 12th of August.
- Flash Flooding and Wildfire in Washington, July 3 to 31, 1998funnel cloud sighted on the south side of Wilbur.
- Tornado and Wildfire in Washington, August 6 to 26, 199710 head of cattle were killed by lightning
- Damaging Winds in Washington, June 21, 2005On the evening of the 21st, two severe thunderstorm gust fronts moved across eastern Washington. The first one hit between the hours of approximently 5pm PST to around 7pm from northern Spokane County to eastern Stevens and western Pend Orielle Counties.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Washington, June 5, 2022Another round widespread stratiform rain showers impacted the Inland Northwest. With the ground already saturated from previous system, the rain began to impact the region quickly with three quarters to an inch of rain.
- Flash Flood and Debris Flows in Washington, August 10 to 11, 2013Moist, southerly flow ahead of an area of low pressure trickling northward along the Oregon Coast created a moist, unstable environment over Central Washington.
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Washington, July 9 to 12, 2023A strong system moved through Eastern Washington and brought scattered thunderstorms. The main areas stretched along Highway 2 from Waterville Plateau to Northern Spokane County.
More
Thunderstorm Wind everywhereEvery kind of event in Washington
Sources
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.