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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

June ‘06 tied for Spokane’s sixth-wettest

This month may be only halfway over, but June 2006 already is the wettest June in the past 42 years in Spokane.

A steady, gentle rain on Wednesday added to the standing water brought by a series of downpours this month, including a traffic-swamping deluge on Tuesday.

Forecasters warned Wednesday that urban and small stream flooding would continue through today, even as drier weather arrives from the west. They also said mudslides are possible on water-soaked hillsides.

The Kootenai River at Bonners Ferry in North Idaho was expected to crest at a flood stage of 64 feet at mid-day today.

Repairs continued on T.J. Meenach Drive in Spokane, where a backed-up storm sewer unleashed a washout along the major east-west arterial. An early estimate placed the damage at about $100,000. The route remained open to traffic with lane restrictions while Spokane city crews outlined a plan to get the street fully reopened, probably within a matter of weeks, said Scott Egger, director of streets.

Also in the region, the Associated Press reported this week’s rains are damaging the Washington cherry crop, causing the ripening fruit to crack and turn soft, leaving it worthless.

A total of 0.29 inches of rain fell at Spokane International Airport on Wednesday, bringing the monthly total to 3.06 inches and tying the record for the sixth-wettest June on record, which came in 1964.

Charles Ross, hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Spokane, said the rainfall totals this month are impressive by historical standards. “We are on pace to be the wettest June since 1905,” he said. Record-keeping in Spokane dates to 1881.

Ross said it is unlikely that Spokane will set a record for the wettest June. That came in 1888 when 5.12 inches were recorded. Spokane has been on track for a new June record, but the second half of June 1888 was so wet that it appears unlikely 2006 will catch up.

Coeur d’Alene on Wednesday had about 0.6 inches of rain, and Bonners Ferry had more than an inch.

Medium-range forecasts call for a drying trend through the weekend, with a shower possible on Saturday, to be followed by a possible return to summer-like temperatures near the end of next week, Ross said.

“I guess there is good news on the horizon,” he said.

Still, cleanup from the storms continued across the region on Wednesday.

Ross said Spangle, which had a dozen homes flooded with water and mud on Saturday, did not receive heavy rain Wednesday.

Spokane wastewater crews were working around the clock Wednesday to unblock storm drains and fix other water-related problems, including flooded basements.

“The department has been inundated with calls since heavy rains began Saturday,” said Staci Lehman, public information coordinator for the city, in a prepared statement on Wednesday.

Lehman also said residents can help by clearing leaves and debris that may be blocking storm drains near their homes.

“Please use safety while out in the community: Drive slowly through puddles of standing water and in areas where crews are working,” she said.

People who think there has been too much rain won’t find any happiness in this statistic: It has rained during nine of the past 11 weekends.

The wet weather may seem improbable following a four-day run of 90-degree-plus temperatures in mid-May, but spring in the Inland Northwest usually offers wild weather swings, forecasters say.

“Hang on; summer’s coming,” Ross said.