Bonner storm history

Tree fell on 17 year old male in backyard of home. Several reports of trees downed and tops snapped in the Sandpoint, Dover areas. There was a report of shingles being blown off roof. The BMX track was damaged by downed trees. Wind gusts estimated to be around 65 MPH.

The broadcast media reported that a 21 foot boat with 10 people capsized on Lake Pend Oreille with 1 fatality. There were high waves due to a passing thunderstorm with an estimated 30 mph wind gusts.

Periodic heavy rain and spring time snow melt created saturated soil conditions which promoted numerous debris flows and widespread areal flooding through out Bonner County from the middle to the end of March. A train carrying 50 to 60 empty coal cars derailed near Kootenai after…

Widespread wind damage was observed across the cities of Priest Lake, Sandpoint, Ponderay, Kootenai, Oden, and Lake Pend Oreille. Hundreds of trees ranging from eight to twenty two inches in diameter were snapped or downed. Some trees landed on homes, others took out miles of pow…

Damaging winds led to widespread tree damage across central Bonner County. A navy bouy located on the south end of Lake Pend Oreille clocked a wind gust of 75 mph. Multiple trees were knocked down across the city of Sandpoint and smaller communities surrounding Lake Pend Oreille.…

The emergency manager of Bonner County relayed numerous road damage reports from across the county due to flooding from March 31st. The roads included in this report were Fish Creek, Sandborn Creek, West Shingle Mill, Bottle Bay, Dufort, Peninsula, Eastriver, Blacktail, Beare, Eu…

Spring Creek Road leading into Clark Fork washed out near the confluence of Lightning and Spring Creeks. 100 to 150 homes and residents near Clark Fork, Idaho were stranded after two roads were washed out. In the Lightning Creek drainage, washouts were up to 700 feet long and 15 …

East Spring Creek Road washed out along Spring Creek. Road washed out on Lightning Creek Road. Between 300 to 400 residents sheltering in place above Clark Fork as they are trapped due to the road closure. Damage cost is estimated.

Three reports of one inch hail were recorded for a strong thunderstorm for Dover and Sagle Idaho near Sandpoint. The reports came from a trained spotter and two from the public including a mPing.

Spotter recorded one inch hail and estimated 65 MPH wind gust. Spotter also out of power.

Observer reported tree down in Oldtown. A max wind gusts 41 MPH was reported in Oldtown.

Lightning Creek flooding led to washout of Forest Service Road 419 North of Clark Fork, Idaho.

One inch hail reported in Blanchard. The thunderstorm wind also knocked down trees and powerlines near Kelso Lake Road near Spirit Lake and Barrett Road near Priest River.

Kalispell Boat Launch and boat at Priest Lake damaged and dislodged from strong wind gusts.

Emergency management office reported a tree down in Hope Idaho.

Rock slide along East Sore Road blocking one lane of traffic.

A band of weak thunderstorms pushed through the area. Spotter estimated wind gusts from a thunderstorm in the area near Sandpoint. Downed tree and wires north of Priest River, with over 1000 customers without power.

Observer reported an inch of rain since midnight.

Observer reported 1.25 hail.

A member of the public reported downed trees on power lines across Elmira Road due to thunderstorm winds. Time of report was estimated based on radar.

A county sheriff reported tree damage and power outages due to thunderstorm winds in Clark Fork.

The Idaho Panhandle Forest Service reported multiple trees down in the Grand View area along Priest Lake due to thunderstorm winds.

A trained spotter reported hail with a diameter of 1 inch and heavy hain with a passing thunderstorm near Elmira.

Pictures posted on social media showed hail with an estimated diameter of 1 inch near Priest Lake. Time is estimated based on radar.

A member of the public reported hail with a diameter of 1.25 inches due to a passing thunderstorm near Kootenai.

U.S. Forest Service reported a partial road closure on Forest Service Road 280 near Grouse Creek. This was due to Grouse Creek flooding and flood damage caused by spring snow melt and heavy rain. There were no known injuries or damage to buildings.

A Mesonet rain gauge in Sandpoint recorded a 24 hour total 0.93 rain on May 20th.

Sandpoint Community Resource Center relayed that help was needed at Bonner Homeless Transition's Housing due to flooding Trestle Creek. The fire department was on site and volunteers helped fill sand bags. There were no reports of flooding damage or injuries.

Idaho Department of Transportation reported a rock slide across Highway 200 near Trestle Creek.

The Ponderay town office reported hail up to the size of 1 inch blanketing the ground.

Multiple reports of tree damage were received from the town of Priest River including a 100 foot tall pine tree uprooted during thunderstorm winds. Some homes suffered damage to shingles and fences. Time estimated from radar data.

A member of the public reported a tree down on a garage and apartment near Coolin due to thunderstorm wind gusts. Time estimated from radar data.

The Sandpoint Police Department reported 9 roads blocked by downed trees in and around Sandpoint from thunderstorm wind gusts. Time estimated from radar data.

The twitter feed of a local TV station featured a photograph from a member of the public appearing to be a funnel cloud near Priest River. Time estimated from radar.

The USGS Lake Level Gage on Lake Pend Oreille near Hope recorded a rise above the Flood Stage of 2063.5 feet on May 18th. The lake level crested at 2063.8 on May 23rd. The lake level remained at or slightly above Flood Stage through the remainder of the month.

The USGS River Flow Gage at Abeni Falls Dam which controls the flow of the Pend Oreille River below the dam surpassed the Flood Flow of 95,000 Cubic Feet per Second (CFS) at 2:30 PM PST on May 11th. The flow increased and passed through the Moderate Flood Flow of 115,000 CFS at 1…

The Bonner County Sheriff reported a debris flow across East River Road, temporarily cutting travel along the eastern shore of Priest River.

An emergency manager noted several roads were closed from water over the roadway along and near Schewitzer creek, Sand creek, Grouse creek, and the Upper Pack river.

A member of the broadcast media reported that Oliver road was washed out from heavy rain in 5 miles north of Sandpoint, Idaho.

An amateur radio operator reported that the Pack river exceeded historical measurement. The USGS to asssess new rating of Dec 9,2015 at the gauge near Colburn, Idaho.

A member of the public near Clark Fork, Idaho reported that Lightning creek is at bank-full with a video posted to social media.

An emergency manager in Cocolalla, Idaho reported a few power lines down and fires that started from the downed lines and lightning strikes. Hail was also reported but size was unknown.

A trained spotter reported 0.88 inch size hail 4 miles south southwest of Sandpoint, Idaho.

A member of the public reported 1.00 inch size hail 5 miles south of Sandpoint, Idaho.

A member of the public at the Nordman store and post office in Nordman, Idaho reported 1 inch hail.

A trained spotter reported 0.75 inch hail in Blanchard, Idaho.

KHQ TV reported a mudslide 14 miles east of Bonners Ferry, Idaho which covered the BNSF railroad tracks. Slide was 20 feet deep, 50 feet wide, and 200 feet long. The slide halted train traffic for 48 hours until it was cleared.

A tree was blown down on a power line in Sandpoint, ID.

Standing water reported across the area. A mobile home park in Ponderay was hardest hit with one trailer inundated with two feet of water inside the home. Damage costs were estimated.

Several power lines downed across the southwestern portion of Bonner County.