Tornado warning rattles county
—Photo by ROGER BRANSCOME<br>Winds sent a tree crashing through the roof of a Sandpoint house on Winchester Way, damaging a boat inside the home's garage, during a severe thunderstorm that prompted the National Weather Service to issue a tornado warning for central Bonner County and southwestern Boundary County Friday.
SANDPOINT — Strong winds knocked trees down like bowling pins around Bonner County after a severe thunderstorm swept through the area late Friday afternoon.
A tree crashed through the roof of a Sandpoint house on Winchester Way, severely damaging a boat parked in the home's garage.
Firefighters on the scene kept onlookers away from the home while they checked the safety of other, nearby trees.
There was no information on whether anyone was in the home when the tree fell.
The thunderstorm which swept through the area produced strong winds, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a tornado warning for central Bonner County and southwestern Boundry County.
The warning was in effect from about 5 p.m. until about 5:45 p.m.
The National Weather Service issued the warning after doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado in the area.
Officials calculated the worst of the storm to hit from Coolin to Sandpoint about 5:30 p.m.
Strong winds also blew through the Priest Lake/Coolin area, toppling trees and knocking out power to parts of the area.