Washington Sustains Hail, Rain Storms

Tree fruit growers in some of the prime apple and cherry farming districts of central and south-central Washington were busy assessing the conditions of their orchards this week in the wake of an unusual weekend of weather.

The lower Yakima Valley, the Columbia Basin, Tri-Cities, and Walla Walla got rain and hail on Saturday afternoon and some again on Sunday.

The Tri-Cities Herald in Kennewick reported hail the size of quarters in Waitsburg Saturday afternoon as a quick storm moved over the Mid-Columbia.

Much of the Tri-Cities had a sudden, heavy but quick downpour early Saturday afternoon. In Othello, some streets were flooded.

The National Weather Service received the report of hail in Waitsburg at 2:42 p.m. with the largest hail the size of half dollars. Winds of 60 mph and heavy rain also were reported in Waitsburg.

In Columbia County nickel-sized hail was reported north of Dixie.

Several growers, who declined to have their names published, said the hail did extensive damage in numerous areas. The hail was not the first for June, either. Two weeks earlier another hail storm hit in the Columbia Basin and the Naches/Gleed areas, west of Yakima.

In addition, yesterday rain fell for much of the day, leading to concerns about the cherry harvest.