Weak Tornado in Washington State

news image
Top Stories
5 Oct 2019 7:42 AM
You read the headline right -- a weak and brief tornado was confirmed in Thurston County, WA, on Friday afternoon according to preliminary data from the local National Weather Service. The quick touchdown happened just minutes before 2 PM PT to the southeast of Grand Mound, which is along the I-5 corridor south of Olympia.  The NWS in Seattle determined that this was a tornado based on videos taken by people in the area, and did not do a storm survey.  Both media as well as the radar at the time this occurred were used to make this evaluation. Because there was no damage or injuries from this storm, the team ranked it an EF-U, which means the peak winds were unknown.  This is a preliminary rating, and there would need to be confirmed damage to rate it on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The tornado was estimated to have a width of less than 50 feet with a path of under 100 feet, being on the ground for less than one minute. Tornadoes rarely happen in the Evergreen State, as they are one of numerous states out west that average less than 5 per year. https://twitter.com/NWSSeattle/status/1180276325673652224?s=20 You can read the full report here from the National Weather Service: https://twitter.com/NWSSeattle/status/1180247230910910464?s=20
All Weather News
More
Record Heat Fuels Severe Storms in the Northeast

Record Heat Fuels Severe Storms in the Northeast

Summer heat has been building around the East

12 Jun 2026 10:40 PM
Numerous Tornadoes Tear Across the Midwest

Numerous Tornadoes Tear Across the Midwest

The Midwest has been dealing with several rou

12 Jun 2026 10:30 PM
Tropical Moisture to Raise Flooding and Severe Concerns Across Central U.S.

Tropical Moisture to Raise Flooding and Severe Concerns Across Central U.S.

A surge of tropical moisture streaming north

12 Jun 2026 10:00 PM
El Niño Forms, Very Strong El Niño Likely Late 2026

El Niño Forms, Very Strong El Niño Likely Late 2026

El Niño has arrived! It didn't take long for

12 Jun 2026 9:30 PM
First Disturbance of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season Identified in the Gulf

First Disturbance of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season Identified in the Gulf

AtlanticThe first disturbance out into the At

12 Jun 2026 7:35 PM
East & West Coast Weekend Heat

East & West Coast Weekend Heat

Heat advisories have been expanding across th

12 Jun 2026 10:00 AM
Tropical Moisture Brings Increased Flood Risk

Tropical Moisture Brings Increased Flood Risk

With multiple rounds of heavy downpours acros

9 Jun 2026 10:40 AM