Regional highways still closed by floods, slides

Major highways remained closed or partly blocked Monday due to flooding and landslides in northeastern Washington and North Idaho.

Spokane International Airport recorded a half-inch of snow Monday, setting a record for the date.

National Weather Service forecasters said the threat of floods and slides will continue with more rain expected across the region this week.

Forecasters issued a flood watch for Pend Oreille, Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties and parts of Douglas County in Washington, and a watch for slides, standing water and swollen creeks Wednesday and Thursday in Bonner, Boundary and Shoshone counties in Idaho.

U.S. Highway 95 south of Bonners Ferry reopened to a single lane of traffic after a mudslide last week. Traffic is being directed through the slide area in alternating lines.

In Washington, state Highway 21 south of Republic remained blocked Monday from a washout next to a small bridge at Cache Creek.

State Highway 31 south of Metaline also was closed due to a slide. A contractor has been hired to remove unstable soil on the slope above the highway.

In north-central Washington, state Highway 153 west of Pateros was down to a single lane due to a slide.

State Highway 20 west of Okanogan was closed due to a slide there.

The Idaho Department of Transportation opened temporary roadways on state Highway 5 west of St. Maries and state Highway 3 southeast of Coeur d’Alene.

U.S. Highway 395 northwest of Colville remained closed due to water over the roadway.

The access road to Porcupine Bay on the Spokane Arm of Lake Roosevelt was closed last week due to a major slide there.

Early Monday snow was reported across the region but it soon melted with rain and temperatures above freezing. It was the first snow in Spokane in two weeks.

Bryce Williams, meteorologist with the weather service, said the last time snow fell in Spokane was March 27. But that was only a trace, Williams said. The last time the weather service recorded measurable snow was March 9, when 0.4 of an inch fell.

April snow in Spokane is not unusual. The latest the weather service in Spokane has recorded a measurable amount of snow was May 21, in 2007, Williams said.

Monday’s snow should be the last for at least several days. Tuesday is expected to be sunny, followed by a few days of rain. A new storm will arrive Wednesday through Friday. A quarter- to a half-inch of rain is possible in Spokane.

The region’s larger rivers and lakes were below flood stage Monday but remain at high levels.