SPOKANE, WASHINGTON — Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected to develop across the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West this Thursday afternoon May 28, 2026, with isolated wind gusts reaching 75 mph or higher possible across a broad zone covering eastern Oregon, southern Idaho, and eastern Washington, along with the threat for isolated hail and a brief low-end tornado across the region.
Level 2 Slight Risk Active Across Eastern Oregon, Eastern Washington and Southern Idaho
The AguaceroWX severe weather graphics for Thursday May 28 show a Level 2 out of 5 Slight Risk zone in yellow covering a wide swath of the Pacific Northwest interior, stretching from the Yakima and Wenatchee corridors in Washington southward through Pasco, The Dalles, Madras, Prineville, Bend, Burns, and Lakeview in Oregon, and eastward through Lewiston, Grangeville, Baker City, Payette, and Boise in Idaho.
The Slight Risk designation indicates that scattered severe thunderstorms are expected across this zone this afternoon, with isolated gusts and small hail listed as the primary hazards within the broader outlined risk area. A Marginal Risk buffer in dark green extends the overall thunderstorm threat further outward across a wider Pacific Northwest footprint including Spokane, Seattle, Portland, and the broader region.
Isolated 75 MPH or Higher Gusts Possible Across Central Oregon and Southern Idaho Core
The most striking element of today’s Pacific Northwest severe weather setup is the isolated 75 mph or higher wind gust potential depicted in the orange zone on the wind hazard graphic. This core zone covers a significant area including Bend, Payette, Boise, Burns, Mountain Home, and Twin Falls, where the most intense individual storm cells could produce damaging winds well above the standard severe thunderstorm threshold of 58 mph.
The broader yellow zone surrounding the orange core indicates gusts to 60 mph across a larger area including Yakima, Pasco, Wenatchee, La Grande, and the broader Columbia Basin corridor, keeping millions of Pacific Northwest residents within the damaging wind threat footprint for this afternoon.
Isolated Hail and Brief Low End Tornado Also Cannot Be Ruled Out This Afternoon
Beyond the dominant wind threat, forecasters are also noting that isolated hail and a brief low-end tornado are both possible across the Pacific Northwest severe weather zone this afternoon. While neither hazard is expected to be widespread, the combination of all three severe weather threats makes this an unusually active severe weather day for a region that does not typically see organized severe thunderstorm setups of this magnitude.
Residents across eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and southern Idaho should monitor warnings closely through the afternoon hours and take shelter immediately if a severe thunderstorm warning is issued for their area.
Stay with GordonRamsayClub.com for the latest updates.
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