Expert: Columbia River has peaked

LONGVIEW, Wash. – Even as heavy snowpack in the mountains continues to melt, the worst of the Columbia River flooding has passed, a forecaster says.

Worries of serious flooding increased this spring after the massive river’s levels rose to heights unseen recently. A heavy snowpack and a wet spring had combined to feed the river, and the heavy runoff prompted officials to open dams upstream.

But National Weather Service hydrologist Andy Bryant said river levels are going to decline slowly in the next few weeks.

“I’m pretty sure at this point we’ve seen the highest levels that we’re going to see,” Bryant said.