Power Returns To Panhandle Crews Finish Restoring Electricity To More Than 6,500 Idaho Homes

North Idaho winked back to life Monday as power returned to most of the Panhandle.

Remaining storm-stuck electrical lines were repaired during the day or were expected to be repaired sometime Monday evening. More than 6,500 homes in Idaho were without power after winds stronger than 65 mph blew down trees and power poles across the Inland Northwest.

And while the region certainly is no Kansas, it turns out weekend tornado reports weren’t just Wizard of Oz fairy tales.

The National Weather Service announced Monday that the storm created by a combination of a cold front, humidity, and sunshine likely did result in a violent twister - tossing trees like Lincoln logs and even lofting a barn.

The Weather Service interviewed witnesses Monday, confirming sightings in Athol and the southeast corner of Washington’s Stevens County and northern Spokane County.

There are scattered thunderstorms and showers predicted throughout North Idaho today, but with winds of just 5 to 10 mph. Tonight, heavy showers are expected with a good chance of thunderstorms. Highs should be in the mid-60s with lows near 50.

Utilities were catching their collective breath Monday, but still had to hustle to finish up repairs.

“When we’re working out in these rural areas, it’s hard,” said Carol Snyder of Washington Water Power.

About 95 percent of WWP customers were hooked up within 24 hours of Saturday’s windstorm, she said. Crews spent Monday plugging in Hope, Trestle Creek and Priest River in Bonner County.

Kootenai Electric Cooperative had just about all of its customers powered up again, save a handful of summer homes. Those were the last priority because they weren’t occupied, KEC spokeswoman Catherine Parochetti said.

Repairs took awhile because the wind was so strong, it struck down rows of poles like bowling pins. “On Highway 53, for about a mile, we lost the whole system … 10 poles,” Parochetti said.

Sandpoint’s Northern Lights grid was hit as hard as it was during last November’s ice storm. “It was major. Our whole system,” said office manager Rich Perkins. “There wasn’t an area that was spared.”

Some areas of Montana served by Northern Lights - Troy, Bull River and Yaak - aren’t expected to have power until Friday.

People who find downed power lines shouldn’t touch them - the lines may be live. Instead, problems should be reported to a power company.

Forest Service officials in Bonner County spent Monday searching for downed trees. A helicopter hovered over the Priest Lake area, scouting for damage.

Although it was too early to tell how the entire forest fared, Sandpoint Ranger Dave Dillard said things looked pretty good.

He credits the removal of dead and unhealthy trees at the Sam Owen Campground along Lake Pend Oreille.

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