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

Rain easing off across Inland Northwest

More than six hours of steady rainfall was easing across the Inland Northwest at 4 p.m., although showers were continuing later this afternoon in North Idaho and across Northeast Washington. Flood warnings and advisories are still in effect. Spokane International Airport recorded about a third of an inch of rain through 4 p.m. Rainfall amounts were lighter than forecast in Spokane, Northeast Washington and North Idaho, forecasters said, which will help stem flood concerns. Flood crests on the region’s rivers should be slightly lower than anticipated on Wednesday as a result, they said. However, showers across the region’s mountains should continue well into this evening. The heaviest rainfall was in north-central Washington where amounts of up to an inch have been measured. Flood warnings are in effect for the St. Joe, Coeur d’Alene and Spokane rivers as well as Lake Coeur d’Alene. Peak flows above the lake are expected on Friday with the highest flows on the lake and downstream on the Spokane River arriving on Sunday or Monday. A flood advisory also was issued for small streams across the region. A cold front was moving through the Spokane region this afternoon, bringing drier and cooler air along with wind gusts of about 30 mph. Showers are expected on Friday with drying on Saturday and mostly sunny and partly sunny on Sunday. Temperatures are going to drop a few degrees below normal for late April with highs in the middle to upper 50s and lows mainly in the upper 30s. Colder air associated with today’s storm will bring snow levels down in the mountains and slow the runoff from snow melt, forecasters said.