WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND IDAHO — An unusual and rare severe weather setup is unfolding across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho on Thursday, May 28, 2026, as a cutoff low to the south rotates supercell-capable storms around its back side into the Pacific Northwest region. The setup carries a Risk Level 2 out of 5 designation with large hail and damaging winds as the primary hazard modes, while supercell development expected at least initially in the event brings a 2 percent tornado probability with any tornado remaining below EF-2 intensity.
Cutoff Low Driving Unusual Supercell Setup Across the Pacific Northwest Thursday
A cutoff low pressure system located to the south is the driving atmospheric feature behind today’s unusual severe weather placement, rotating storm energy around its back side and directing it into Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. This is a notably rare severe weather configuration for this region at this time of year, making it a meteorologically significant and closely watched event…