Power Outage in Post Falls, ID

Two reports of one inch hail from a thunderstorm in the area. The storm also caused ponding on roadways and widespread minor damage. The damage included tree limbs and downed power lines. It also damaged docks and boats along Lake Coeur D'Alene. An estimated 1700 customers lost power. Max wind gusts recorded was 39 MPH in Coeur D'Alene.

Two reports of one inch hail from a thunderstorm in the area. The storm also caused ponding on roadways and widespread minor damage. The damage included tree limbs and downed power lines. It also damaged docks and boats along Lake Coeur D'Alene. An estimated 1700 customers lost power. Max wind gusts recorded was 39 MPH in Coeur D'Alene.

A strong thunderstorm crossed over the WA, ID border near Stateline and tracked North to Hauser. It dropped hail ranging from half an inch to 2.75 inch. Most hail reports ranged from 0.75 inch to 1.5 inch. An estimated 2.75 inch size was reported around Hauser. Wind also knocked down power lines near Carlin Bay airport.

A strong thunderstorm crossed over the WA, ID border near Stateline and tracked North to Hauser. It dropped hail ranging from half an inch to 2.75 inch. Most hail reports ranged from 0.75 inch to 1.5 inch. An estimated 2.75 inch size was reported around Hauser. Wind also knocked down power lines near Carlin Bay airport.

Coeur D Alene Press reported that thunderstorms brought high winds and downed trees across portions of Post Falls, Hayden, Spirit Lake, and northern Coeur D'Alene. The Stateline Speedway and several other businesses on Pleasant View Road lost power and were forced to cancel the Idaho 200 race. The storm and strong winds also sparked a quick grass fire causing Love's Travel Center to evacuate. The storm was also blamed for a house fire on Cimmaron Street in Post Falls and another one at Fir and 13th Street caused by downed power lines.

Coeur D Alene Press reported that thunderstorms brought high winds and downed trees across portions of Post Falls, Hayden, Spirit Lake, and northern Coeur D'Alene. The Stateline Speedway and several other businesses on Pleasant View Road lost power and were forced to cancel the Idaho 200 race. The storm and strong winds also sparked a quick grass fire causing Love's Travel Center to evacuate. The storm was also blamed for a house fire on Cimmaron Street in Post Falls and another one at Fir and 13th Street caused by downed power lines.

Trees and power lines were blown down at Ogara and South Benewah Road.

Tree blown down on power line.

Non-severe thunderstorms during the early morning of July 17th, produced frequent lightning strikes in and around the Post Falls area. One bolt struck a man in his car while driving to work. The man did not receive any injuries from the strike however his car's sensors were damaged and he lost all power control while driving, including the brakes. He was able to safely pull the vehicle to the side of the road then noticed the car could not be turned off even without the key in the ignition. Two tires were also blown out from the strike.

On the evening of the 21st, a severe thunderstorm gust front moved across Kootenai County at around 715pm to about 815pm PST. The hardest hit towns were Post Falls and Rathdrum. In the town of Post Falls, many large trees were down along with about 10,000 homes without power. There were a few homes damaged by the winds. The town of Rathdrum had about 200 homes without power and trees down.

Widespread thunderstorm activity across North Idaho. It brought several reports of damage, power outages, and large hail. It briefly generated a funnel cloud in the North of Hayden Idaho.

During the evening of July 23rd, a strong upper level trough triggered thunderstorms in a moist and unstable air mass over northeast Oregon. These storms moved northeastward into eastern Washington and north Idaho forming into a line of thunderstorms featuring severe wind gusts as they passed through the region. Numerous reports of 60 mph wind gusts, downed trees and power outages were received from northeast Washington and north Idaho during the late evening hours as this line swept through the region. Utility companies reported over 30,000 customers around the region without power in the wake of these storms. One person was injured and had to be rescued when he was pinned under a fallen tree near Bonners Ferry.

A ridge of high pressure over the region for the last few weeks was nudged east by a potent upper-level trough coming off the Eastern Pacific. The trough took on a strong negative tilt and passed through during peak heating. An east to west line of strong thunderstorms developed over Northern Oregon and tracked northward through Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho during the late afternoon and early evening. Additional storms continued to develop along the gust front which continued to pickup momentum as it passed into the region into an inverted V environment. Winds between 50 and 60 mph resulted in downed trees and power outages. The strongest winds were observed between Latah and southern Bonner County.

A severe thunderstorm resulted in wind damage in the Coeur D'Alene area, as well as Kootenai and Sandpoint where several trees and power lines were blown down.

A line of severe thunderstorms tracked through north Idaho causing extensive damage from Kootenai county north to the United States and Canadian border. Numerous trees were blown down with power outages common due to winds between 60-70 MPH. Over 100 power poles had to be replaced, including at least 70 that snapped near Priest Lake. At least 15,000 homes in Kootenai, Bonner, and Boundary counties lost power. Every home in Boundary county lost power. Trees fell onto several homes, cars, and roadways, including highway 95 which was blocked north of Bonners Ferry and between Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint. The Army National Guard responded to provide additional aid to emergency personnel. The port of entry into Canada briefly closed due to the storm.

A 27 foot sailboat sank near Blackwell Island in Coeur D'Alene after lightning struck the sailboat. An electrical charge from the lightning also traveled up power lines to a home and blew out two TV's and damaged several electrical sockets. Other homes and businesses received minor damage. Lightning struck a business putting a hole in a concrete wall. About 2,000 power outages resulted from the storm.

Scattered thunderstorms led to severe weather over portions of north central Idaho. These storms began to produce severe weather at St. Maries where penny sized hail was observed with wind gusts of 40-50 MPH. As the storms moved north, more severe weather occurred in the form of strong wind gusts. A National Weather Service Storm Survey found hundreds of flattened trees up to two feet in diameter over a three acre area at Bumblebee Campground, located seven miles north of Pinehurst. One unoccupied motor home was destroyed when trees fell on it. Little Tepee Creek which is near Bumblebee Campground also had numerous trees knocked down. As the storms continued to move north, trees and power lines were knocked down from Sandpoint to Kootenai in Bonner county, as well as the north side of the county. The winds blew one dock near Sandpoint about 20 feet to the north causing the walkway to collapse. In Samuels, pieces of a roof fell behind a barn, with part of the structure falling on a recreational vehicle that was parked inside. As the storm moved north into Boundary county, numerous trees and power lines fell throughout the county, including Bonners Ferry. A couple small fires were started from the downed power lines. Power outages were reported in Eastport and Naples. A trailer was also crushed at the Robinson Lake Campground. The property damage from this event is estimated at $53,000.

During the afternoon of June 10th a cluster of thunderstorms formed over northern Idaho. Spotters in Bonner and Kootenai Counties reported hail diameters ranging from 3/4 of an inch to one inch. Gusty downburst winds also accompanied some of these storms with a report of a tree being blown down near Sandpoint and power lines downed near Priest River.