Hit-or-miss storm floods city streets

A second round of thunderstorms moved through Inland Northwest on Tuesday, dropping large hail, flooding city streets and sending people running for cover. A deluge inundated streets in Coeur d’Alene about 5 p.m. with part of that storm passing across south Spokane, where heavy rain was reported. Another storm cell from the west moved across downtown Spokane about 5:20 p.m., causing water to pond up along streets. Ponding water was reported on Interstate 90 travel lanes. Earlier in the day, a separate line of thunderstorms in Northeast Washington and North Idaho brought large hail to Sandpoint where the stones measured an inch in diameter. The National Weather Service received reports from Springdale in Stevens County of hail ranging in size from golf balls to pennies. The storms continued across Northeast Washington at nightfall. The National Weather Service had issued special weather statements in advance of the storms Tuesday. Spokane International Airport on Tuesday had only a trace of rain during the afternoon storms, but Felts Field to the east reported 0.26 inches, showing the hit-or-miss nature of the storms. Less than 24 hours earlier, thunderstorms Monday evening dropped a combination of rain and hail and caused a series of power outages in the Spokane area. Localized heavy rain was reported on the South Hill. Spokane International Airport recorded 0.13 inches of rain on Monday while Felts Field in East Spokane had 0.27 inches. A large and slow-moving low pressure system that brought the storms is migrating eastward and is being replaced by more stable weather. Sunny skies are forecast for today with a high of 81 and again on Thursday with a high of 77. Tonight’s low will be near 50. Partly to mostly sunny skies continue through the weekend with similar temperatures. No shower chances are in the forecast.