High Wind — Spokane Area, Washington

2021-01-13 · Spokane Area, Washington

Event narrative

Broadcast media reported one fatality when a large tree fell on a car and trapped the driver.

Wider weather episode

A strong cold front swept through eastern Washington on the morning of January 13th. Following moderate mountain snow and valley rain, severe winds raced through the region. Widespread gusts of 50 to 60 mph were observed across the Columbia Basin, with 60 to 70 mph winds observed in the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene region. The Spokane International Airport tied its second strongest all time wind speed record of 71 mph.

There was widespread damage, downed trees, and power outages throughout much of the Spokane area, while relatively isolated in the remainder of the region. At the height of the storm, an approximate 103,000 households throughout the region were without power. Numerous school districts cancelled school for the day due to lack of power. Overall, it took a week to restore power to all who lost it.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 937282. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.