One of the largest and most widespread severe weather events occurred across the Spokane County Warning Area on July 20th.  Several days prior to the day of the event, a deep upper-level low slowly sagged down the Pacific Northwest Coastline.  Southerly flow ahead of the low pumped moist, unstable air into the Inland Northwest.  The combination of afternoon heating and smaller impulses ejecting from the offshore low kept the region very unsettled with several rounds of severe thunderstorms from the 15th through the 19th.  On the morning of the 20th, the remnants of Tropical Storm Fabio became ingested into the southerly flow and transported toward the region.  Meanwhile, a shortwave dropping into the Gulf of Alaska acted to kick the upper-low off the southwestern Oregon Coast inland.  The upper-level wave took on a strong negative tilt, driven northeastward by a 75kt jet streak, crossing through Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho during the early to late afternoon on July 20th.  The combination of strong dynamic forcing along the shortwave, presence of an abnormally moist, unstable air mass, highly diffluent flow aloft, and jet streak dynamics led to numerous severe thunderstorms across Northern Idaho.  Severe hail and winds were observed with storms during the early afternoon across lower portions of the Idaho Panhandle.  The threat transitioned to severe winds by the mid to late afternoon as storms migrated into northern sections of the Panhandle with hundreds of downed trees and one fatality.

Hail in NEZ PERCE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 11:48:00 to 20-JUL-12 11:54:00 (PST-8)
Location: LEWISTON ORCHARDS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in NEZ PERCE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 11:48:00 to 20-JUL-12 11:55:00 (PST-8)
Location: LAPWAI
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The report was from Valley Gas in Lapwai.

Hail in NEZ PERCE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 11:48:00 to 20-JUL-12 11:55:00 (PST-8)
Location: LEWISTON ORCHARDS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in BONNER, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 14:10:00 to 20-JUL-12 14:15:00 (PST-8)
Location: CEDAR CREEK
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Measured at the Lake Pend Oreille Buoy.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHOSHONE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 14:11:00 to 20-JUL-12 14:16:00 (PST-8)
Location: POLARIS
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Power lines were blown down.

Hail in LATAH, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 12:40:00 to 20-JUL-12 12:46:00 (PST-8)
Location: BOVARD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in NEZ PERCE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 12:15:00 to 20-JUL-12 12:20:00 (PST-8)
Location: SUMMIT
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail resulted in numerous dents to vehicles.

Hail in NEZ PERCE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 11:48:00 to 20-JUL-12 11:55:00 (PST-8)
Location: LAPWAI
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Report from Nez Perce Tribal Police.

Hail in NEZ PERCE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 12:00:00 to 20-JUL-12 12:06:00 (PST-8)
Location: SUMMIT
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The hail caused major damage to a vehicle.

Hail in NEZ PERCE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 12:00:00 to 20-JUL-12 12:05:00 (PST-8)
Location: MYRTLE
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The hail caused numerous dents on vehicles.

Hail in LATAH, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 12:15:00 to 20-JUL-12 12:20:00 (PST-8)
Location: JULIAETTA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in SHOSHONE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 14:15:00 to 20-JUL-12 14:19:00 (PST-8)
Location: PRICHARD
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Prichard Tavern reported a small utility trailer blown roughly 150 feet.  Several tree limbs down.  Pea size hail also observed.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHOSHONE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 14:25:00 to 20-JUL-12 14:29:00 (PST-8)
Location: FALCON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Nine trees were blown down at Tin Can Campground.

Thunderstorm Wind in KOOTENAI, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 13:03:00 to 20-JUL-12 13:08:00 (PST-8)
Location: CONKLING PARK
Magnitude: 54.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees and power lines were blown down at Ogara and South Benewah Road.

Hail in SHOSHONE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 13:30:00 to 20-JUL-12 13:35:00 (PST-8)
Location: CALDER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in BONNER, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 14:53:00 to 20-JUL-12 14:58:00 (PST-8)
Location: NORDMAN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 6.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A tree fell on a moving vehicle killing the driver.

Thunderstorm Wind in KOOTENAI, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 13:59:00 to 20-JUL-12 14:04:00 (PST-8)
Location: DUDLEY
Magnitude: 54.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A large tree was blown down on highway 3 blocking the roadway near Interstate 90.

Thunderstorm Wind in NEZ PERCE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 11:45:00 to 20-JUL-12 11:45:00 (PST-8)
Location: WEBB
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 8.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm winds knocked down several trees.  There was also roof damage to an outbuilding.

Thunderstorm Wind in BONNER, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 15:00:00 to 20-JUL-12 15:05:00 (PST-8)
Location: NORDMAN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Priest Lake State Park reported numerous trees down.  RV and Cabins throughout the park received extensive damage.  A few cars were totaled by falling trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHOSHONE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 14:16:00 to 20-JUL-12 14:20:00 (PST-8)
Location: PRICHARD
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A tree was blown down on a power line at Coeur D Alene River Road at mile post 27.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHOSHONE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 14:21:00 to 20-JUL-12 14:26:00 (PST-8)
Location: KINGSTON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A tree was blown down onto a power line on School House Loop Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHOSHONE, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 12:35:00 to 20-JUL-12 12:40:00 (PST-8)
Location: BRADLEY
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 6.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A roof was torn off an outbuilding.  Spotter also observed one inch hail.

Thunderstorm Wind in KOOTENAI, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 13:36:00 to 20-JUL-12 13:42:00 (PST-8)
Location: ROSE LAKE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Tree blown down on power line.

Hail in LATAH, IDAHO
From 20-JUL-12 11:48:00 to 20-JUL-12 11:55:00 (PST-8)
Location: JULIAETTA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter