Flood watch issued for Coeur d’Alene River

The region’s balmy weather has created enough snowmelt that the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the Coeur d’Alene River near Cataldo. The river is expected to approach flood stage later this afternoon, but at this time, the river is not expected to go over flood stage. Cooler temperatures should help matters as the warm weather gets blown out of the region later today, according to the National Weather Service. As a result, the high should top out at about 65 in Spokane and 70 in the Lake City before the wind hits. Wind gusts as high as 30 mph are expected later today with sustained wind speeds up to 18 mph. Chances increase tonight for showers with a low in Spokane of about 36 and 37 in Coeur d’Alene, according to the National Weather Service. Thursday will open with a 50 percent chance of rain in the region, and it will be mostly cloudy. The high in Spokane should reach about 52, with 49 in Coeur d’Alene. The clouds will persist into Thursday night with a low in Spokane of about 32 in both the Lilac City and the Lake City. As if the weather couldn’t get worse, Friday will bring a chance of rain that could possibly start out as snow in Coeur d’Alene, according to the National Weather Service. The highs should reach 52 again in Spokane and 50 in Coeur d’Alene. The chance of rain continues into Saturday and Sunday morning, but the clouds should break later Sunday.