Funnel Cloud in Lincoln County, Washington

A member of the public photographed a small funnel cloud north of Interstate 90 over uninhabited land in Lincoln County near the border with Spokane County.

A moist and unstable air mass over eastern Washington produced scattered slow moving heavy rain bearing thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of May 16th. Rainfall rates up to 0.9 inches in 20 minutes were observed with rainfall totals around one inch between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM in and around downtown Spokane. Lesser amounts were observed outside of this area.

The most intense storm occurred between 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM over the the downtown commercial district and north Spokane residential area and produced widespread urban flooding which severely disrupted the evening commute with impassable or restricted intersections from deep ponding of water on the roads. Emergency crews made several water rescues of stranded motorists from cars stalled in 8 to 12 inches of water at one intersection in north Spokane.

A funnel cloud was photographed by a member of the public from another nearby thunderstorm earlier in the afternoon.