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

Snow possible today

Snow returns to the forecast today after milder weather brought near record temperatures to the Inland Northwest on Monday. The National Weather Service is calling for a 70 percent chance of light snow today in the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas. An inch of snow is possible in Spokane and two inches is forecast for Coeur d’Alene. The incoming storm system will move south of the Spokane area, giving Pullman up to 3 inches of snow and Camas Prairie locations in the central Idaho Panhandle as much as 6 inches. With a high of 37 in Spokane, the snow is not likely to stick to roadways until after dusk. Coeur d’Alene may see more snow, but the lake city has a predicted high of 40. Snow may continue there tonight, but accumulations will be light. Monday’s high was 49 degrees, just two degrees short of the record of 51 for the date, which was set in 1919. Sunday’s high of 51 at Spokane International Airport broke the 1974 record of 49 degrees for the date. Relatively quiet weather is expected through the week with highs in the middle 30s and lows in the middle to upper 20s. A chance of rain or snow returns to the forecast on Thursday and Friday. Rivers in the region are falling below flood stage after rain and mild temperatures caused streams to rise. The St. Joe River at Calder was at 12.1 feet this morning and falling. Flood stage there is 13 feet. The Coeur d’Alene River at Enaville was at 71.3 feet and cresting. Flood stage there is 72 feet. On Monday, Kootenai County emergency officials said flooding was occurring in the Cataldo area, forcing closure of CCC Road and Latour Creek Road. In Shoshone County, the Old River Road along the Coeur d’Alene River was closed by flood water and residents living there were advised to evacuate, although some of them remained in their homes, the sheriff’s office reported. On the St. Joe, a U.S. Forest Service building was flooded along with a residence at Avery. Flood waters were also threatening low-lying areas at St. Maries. In Spokane, the Spokane Falls was running at 16,700 cubic feet per second as the flush of snow melt and rain water makes its way through Lake Coeur d’Alene past Post Falls. The falls were putting on a show for visitors to Riverfront Park. “We heard the water was really coming through here. This is beautiful,” said Jim Christopherson of Hope, Idaho.