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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mountains shield us from severe storms

Randy Mann

Thunderstorm season in the Inland Northwest is right around the corner. Although we do get our share of thunder, lightning, hail and even a rare tornado, the severity of these storms does not compare to the ones seen east of the Rockies, especially in the Great Plains “Tornado Alley.”

The North Cascades to the west and the Rockies to the east often protect our region from the elements that produce thunderstorm and tornado activity. The warmer and more humid waters from the Gulf of Mexico are necessary 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 limited across the Northwest.

However, there have been numerous occasions of damaging winds and hail. On July 4 and 5 of 2006, Mother Nature put on a fireworks show of her own as hail of over 1 inch in diameter caused millions of dollars of agricultural damage. In parts of Eastern Washington and North Idaho, radar estimated rainfall totals of 2 to 3 inches in approximately two hours. Last year, thunderstorm activity was less than normal.

The average number of days with thunderstorms in the Inland Northwest is 11 (one in April, two in May, three in June, two in July, two in August and one in September). The normal number of extreme severe weather days for an entire year is slightly less than one.

If one owns 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, DVD player and other electronic devices. My father’s computer monitor exploded during a thunderstorm. A good surge protector will come with a guarantee if your equipment is damaged or destroyed.

One of the key ingredients for thunderstorms is warmer weather. We’ve already seen temperatures climb into the 60s across the Inland Northwest. Last Saturday marked the first day of spring. This spring should be a bit cooler and wetter than normal as El Niño, the warm-water sea-surface temperature event, continues to weaken. But don’t worry, there will be many days that will have warm afternoons with plenty of sunshine.