Idaho isn't immune to tornadoes, folks

March was a wet month across the Inland Northwest. Cliff measured 5.09 inches of rain and melted snow at his station in northwestern Coeur d’Alene. The normal is only 1.94 inches. Our seasonal total is a little less than 12 inches, compared to a normal of about 8 inches.

We had about 10 inches of precipitation at this time last year, so in terms of moisture, we’re certainly off to a good start for 2016. Over in Washington’s Columbia Basin, a number of stations reported their wettest March in recorded history.

On Easter Sunday, March 27, we saw a little bit of everything across the Inland Northwest. There was an isolated thunderstorm, hail, graupel, snow, rain and even some sun late in the day. Cliff told me of flooding on area roads where the water was about a foot deep.

After the storm passed, high pressure finally returned to the region, giving us more sunshine and mild to warm afternoon temperatures. More rain showers were expected today, but then it should turn warmer and dry.

As we move further into April, conditions should be drier compared to last month. The normal moisture total for this month is 1.77 inches. We expect to end up close to that. May is likely to be a bit drier than normal as well.

As mentioned earlier, the summer of 2016 is not expected to be as hot as the one in 2015 and we may also see a few more afternoon and evening thunderstorms this season. Regardless, this summer’s weather looks pretty good.

We’ve already seen several thunderstorms for the 2016 season. One should be very careful during thunderstorm season in the Inland Empire. From now until the early fall, we will probably have our share of severe weather, which always includes a slight chance of a tornado, despite expected precipitation totals being near to below normal levels. By the way, all 50 states have reported a tornado.

The Cascade Mountains to the west and the Rockies to the east often protect our region from the elements needed to produce the extreme weather conditions of thunderstorm and tornado activity. The warmer and more humid waters from the Gulf of Mexico are necessary ingredients to help produce the severe weather conditions across much of the central U.S., the Southeast, the Mid-Atlantic States and occasionally the Northeast. Thanks to the Rocky Mountains, the Gulf of Mexico’s influence is very limited across the Northwest.

The intensity of a tornado is currently measured by the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which was implemented in 2007. It examines the damage caused by the twister and wind speeds. An EF0 and EF1 tornado inflicts generally minor damage, but an EF5, the most severe, will cause widespread destruction. Prior to the enhancement, the Fujita Scale was used based on the damage of structures and area vegetation.

One of the worst severe weather and tornado outbreaks ever seen in our region occurred on May 31, 1997, across eastern Washington and northern Idaho. On that day, four F1 twisters hit Stevens and Spokane counties with one F1 tornado striking Athol in northern Idaho with an F0 spotted near Lewiston. Severe thunderstorms also produced hail up to 2-3 inches in diameter, very heavy rainfall and wind gusts of over 80 mph. Fortunately, there were no deaths or injuries.

An estimated record 10 tornadoes touched down in Washington and Idaho on May 31, 1997. In Kootenai County, an F2 was reported, one of the largest ever reported in Idaho. An F1 was reported in Jefferson County.

The deadliest tornado outbreak in eastern Washington’s history happened on April 5, 1972. An F3 twister struck Vancouver, sweeping through a grocery store, bowling alley and a grade school. Another F3 tornado touched down west of Spokane with an F2 twister seen in rural Stevens County. There were a total of six deaths, 300 injuries and $50 million in damage.

According to the Tornado History Project, since 1954 there have been 202 tornadoes in Idaho. Despite the number, there were no deaths, but 11 people were injured. The widest path was 1,760 yards on June 6, 2004, in Adams County. One person was injured.

If you own expensive electronic equipment, such as a plasma television or a computer, it’s a good idea to get a good power surge protector. I have learned the hard way to protect valuable equipment as thunderstorms have ruined my weather station, VCR and other electronic devices. My father’s computer monitor actually exploded during a thunderstorm. Get a good surge protector, one the company guarantees if your equipment is damaged or destroyed.

If you have any questions, email me at randy@longrangeweather.com.