Severe Weather Hits Inland Northwest

SPOKANE — Much of the Inland Northwest was hit by severe storms that ran through the area Tuesday night.

Several agencies were dealing with lightning strikes, power outages, and fires, particularly in Okanogan County. Most area dispatch centers around the region said although this storm was impressive, there was really no severe damage reported.

Heavy rain soaked parts of the region, and high winds knocked down trees and branches all over the place. Hundreds of lightning strikes lit up the sky throughout Tuesday evening, igniting wildfires
and causing power failures.

One bolt of lightning hit an electric pole in Post Falls and knocked out power to about 2500 homes in the area, but Avista had the power restored by morning.

Some intersections in Spokane Valley saw minor flooding with the storm’s accompanying rains while wind gusts as high as 40-miles-per hour were reported in Post Falls. Gusts got even higher in Electric City, topping out at over 50-miles-per hour.

Trees have been reported blown down near Mt. Spokane, Chattaroy, Spokane Valley and Post Falls.

Dime to ping pong ball-sized hail also fell throughout the area and a driver on Highway 2 reported hail stones broke his windshield as he was driving near Newport.