High Wind — Northern Panhandle, Idaho

2015-11-17 · Northern Panhandle, Idaho

Event narrative

The mesonet station at Cocolala, Idaho reported a 60 mph windgust. Additionally the windstorm resulted in an indirect fatality for an elderly man who died from hypothermia in Bonner County.

Wider weather episode

An intense surface low pressure system moved from west to east along the Southern British Columbia border and dragged a cold front through as well. The resulting high winds brought about substantial damage across North Idaho....and resulted in widespread power outages and is noted as the most damage seen by Avista utilities from a natural disaster in its 126-year history with an estimated 180,000 Avista utilities customers without power at peak after the windstorm. One indirect fatality from the storm was reported in North Idaho. A state disaster declaration prepared for the four Idaho counties of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai included an initial damage estimate of $2.6 million.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 604295. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.