CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend is now included in a Severe Thunderstorm Warning that remains in effect through 5:30 p.m. for parts of Crook, Deschutes, Grant, and Wheeler counties as a line of storms continues to push through Central Oregon.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch will remain in place until 8 PM this evening.
The National Weather Service says the storms were stretching from near Suplee to northeast of Brothers as of 4 p.m., moving northwest at about 30 miles per hour.
While not as intense as some earlier cells, these storms are still packing wind gusts up to 60 mph, strong enough to damage roofs, siding, and trees. Communities including Seneca, Paulina, Suplee, Izee, Brothers, and Hampton are in the path.
Forecasters also warn of frequent cloud-to-ground lightning, increasing the danger for anyone outdoors. Lightning remains one of the leading weather-related killers, and conditions can quickly turn hazardous even outside of heavy rain.
A series of lightning strikes in Silver Lake light up the skies.
Drivers along Highways 20 and 395 could see sudden drops in visibility and gusty winds as the storms move through.
Residents are urged to head indoors immediately if storms approach, taking shelter in an interior room and staying away from windows.
The sky in Silver Lake, Lake County lights up from a series of lightning strikes.
NORMAN, Oklahoma (KTVZ) — The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for all of Central Oregon and parts of Eastern Oregon until 8:00 pm.
According to meteorologists, thunderstorms will develop and intensify across the watch area through the afternoon, in moderately unstable air mass. The strongest storms will pose a risk of damaging winds and large hail through the early evening.
REMEMBER: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch #248 has been issued for parts of Oregon and Idaho until 8 pm PDT. Several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, hail and perhaps a tornado are expected this afternoon and evening.
A viewer Justin Smith posted this dramatic weather video of slightly rotating clouds in the Spectrum Sunstone Mine near Plush in Lake County.
