National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Above Normal Temperatures, Strong Thunderstorms, Tropical Development Being Monitored

Well above normal temperatures are forecast to shift from the northern Plains through the Northeast U.S. over the long holiday weekend. A few strong to severe thunderstorm will be possible as well along with a potential for excessive rainfall. A tropical or subtropical depression could form off the Southeast U.S. coast over the weekend while drifting northward to northeastward. Read More >

On the afternoon of May 28th, strong thunderstorms developed over southeast Washington and the southern Idaho Panhandle region. These storms moved very slowly to the northwest, which is a somewhat unusual direction for storm motion. One storm in particular though moved very little, anchoring itself over the hilly terrain northeast of Moscow, ID. The radar loop below shows the thunderstorm activity. Note the persistent strong storms between Potlatch and Deary. 
radar Loop

 

The persistent storm produced a very impressive hailstorm. This storm occurred along Highway 9 between Deary and Princeton.

Map of Hailstorm

 

The images below show the Idaho Highway Department clearing the highway of the hail. Some of the hailstones were as large quarters and accumulated to a depth of up to 4 inches.

 

Hail covering the fields

 

Plowing Hail

 

a close up of the hai

By Ron Miller and Kerry Jones