Inland Northwest Weather Year in Review 2022

This year the Inland Northwest had no shortage of memorable and impactful weather events. As we welcome a new year, let's look back at some of the bigger weather events of 2022 across the Inland Northwest.

 

In January there was a massive snow event across Central Washington. This storm dumped 2 to 3 feet of snow on Wenatchee, Leavenworth, and the Methow Valley. Avalanches closed the Cascade mountain passes for days. A blizzard on the Waterville Plateau stranded motorists.

April was a busy month. A wind storm from a strong cold front produced wind gusts to 60 mph bringing trees down in Spokane, Pullman, and Lewiston. Winds also pushed an early season wildfire near Nespelem, WA. Blowing dust darkened the sky in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley.

April was also a cold month. The entire Pacific Northwest had a cold April. Wenatchee had its coldest April on record including a big snowstorm on the 14th. Fruit trees in central Washington struggled to bloom and pollinate on time, as many other agriculture communities saw impacts from the cold and late blooming crops.

May brought two tornadoes to the Spokane area. May 6, a pair of EF-0 tornadoes produced damage within the city limits. Washington tornadoes are rare, but they do occur. The month of May is one of our most common months for tornadoes.

June saw flooding. A late Spring snowpack and frequent rain in June caused river flooding. The heaviest rain of the month fell on June 13 and 14 causing flooding in southeast Washington and the Idaho Panhandle. The Pend Oreille River was above flood stage for several weeks.

Following the flooding from June, July 4th had the flash flood in Conconully, WA. Slow moving thunderstorms occurred over the 2021 Muckamuck burn scar and send much and water into the small town of Conconully in Okanogan county, WA.

August was a busy severe weather month. Severe hail storms on August 11. Parts of eastern Washington and nearby Idaho were pounded by large hail and damaging thunderstorm winds. Swaths of crops were ruined. Cars and homes were also severely damaged by hail of golf ball size (2.75 inches) or larger. 

As to be expected, our fire season showed up. September and October saw lots of smoke. Degraded air quality was common in Chelan county and parts of far north Idaho late in Summer and into the Fall. Places like Leavenworth experienced smoke for weeks until Fall rains arrived. 

November started off on a snowy note. November 6 and 7 heavy snow. A swath of deep snow fell across north central and northeast Washington into far north Idaho. Many communities measured over a foot of new snow. Omak got up to 17 inches and a location near Republic got nearly 3 feet! People in Athol, Idaho saw 19 inches.

Closing out November, November 30 saw more heavy snow. Most of Washington state and the Idaho Panhandle got snow when this large weather system moved inland. Spokane got 7.5 inches, breaking  the snowfall record for the date. The Cascade mountains saw 1 to 2 feet of heavy snow.

Here's to a new year ahead with many more weather events to document and look forward to!