Thunderstorm Wind in Pend Oreille County, Washington

A severe thunderstorm producing winds of 55 to 70 mph knocked down numerous trees across Pend Oreille County. The storms also brought periods of very heavy rainfall and small hail. The widespread tree damage led to power outages, blocked roads, and three injuries. The worst of the damage occurred in southern areas of the county near Diamond and Sacheen Lakes. There were two critical injuries at Diamond Lake. A tree fell on a boat as a family was attempting to dock the boat. The parents were critically injured but the two kids escaped without injury.

A 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. The outcome was a widespread severe weather event for Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho producing large hail, flash flooding, and widespread wind damage. Large hail and heavy rain were the initial threats early in the afternoon. Late in the afternoon, the threat shifted to damaging winds with hundreds of downed or snapped trees. The hardest hit areas were Northeastern Washington and Northern Idaho. Falling trees led to some injuries in Eastern Washington.