Thunderstorms Drop Half-Inch Hail on Northeastern Humboldt County

Coin-sized hail driven by gusty winds swept across Orleans just before 1 p.m. Thursday, briefly blanketing decks and yards as a series of thunderstorms pushed through northeastern Humboldt County. The National Weather Service office in Eureka tracked multiple storm cells through the afternoon and evening, issuing several warnings covering damaging winds and large hail.

By 7:46 p.m., Doppler radar was tracking a strong storm 5 miles east of Weitchpec, or 8 miles southwest of Orleans, moving north at 15 mph. That system carried the potential for wind gusts up to 50 mph and half-inch hail. A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued earlier in the day flagged gusts reaching 60 mph alongside quarter-size hail. NWS cautioned in its warning that wind damage could arrive before any rain or lightning, urging residents not to wait for the sound of thunder before taking cover.

Orleans residents described the hail as dime to quarter-sized as the storms swept across the region Thursday afternoon. The pellets coated outdoor surfaces before tapering off, and no widespread structural damage was reported. Gusty winds threatened to knock down tree limbs and scatter unsecured objects, with minor damage to outdoor items considered possible.

Journalist Kym Kemp documented the storm's reach across the inland northeastern corner of the county, where the Klamath River corridor communities of Orleans and Weitchpec bore the brunt of the activity.

The NWS said thunderstorms were likely again Friday, though the agency expected the follow-up activity to be slightly weaker than Thursday. The NWS Eureka office had initially issued alerts for the multi-day stretch of thunderstorms, small hail, and gusty winds, noting that the strongest storms could reduce visibility, topple branches, and create hazardous driving conditions, especially in inland areas of Humboldt County.