SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — The Spokane National Weather Service has given ratings to the two tornadoes that struck Spokane Friday, May 6.
Both tornadoes were given an EF-0 rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The Enhanced Fujita Scale, or EF Scale, is used to assign a tornado a 'rating' based on estimated wind speeds and related damage. Tornadoes rated EF-0 are considered weak on the EF Scale.
The tornado in Airway Heights had winds of 70 mph and was on the ground for nearly one mile.
The second tornado was slightly stronger and had winds of 80 mph, just 6 mph shy of an EF-1, and was on the ground for more than two miles.
Reports from the public and on social media showed the tornadoes and the associated damage.
This video shared by Brian Stern on Twitter shows the funnel that eventually touched down as a tornado in Spokane Friday evening.
Sherene Bernard shared pictures on Twitter of two trailers that were tossed by the tornado along with several uprooted trees.
The Spokane National Weather Service used these social media reports along with going out in the field and surveying the damage to assign the ratings to the two tornadoes.
The tornado in Airway Heights caused mainly tree damage but the second tornado caused roof damage and tossed travel trailers.
Tornadoes are rare in Washington but can and do occur. Washington averages 2.5 tornadoes per year. The tornadoes are generally weak with ratings of EF0 or EF1 but there have been EF2 and EF3 tornadoes recorded.
There have been 2 tornadoes in Washington in 2022.
Download the KING 5 app to check the interactive radar near you, as well as the latest forecast, cameras and current conditions.