More storms, flooding are forecast
BOISE – Two more storms are expected to move through Idaho during the next week but neither will bring in as much moisture as the most recent storm that caused flooding in parts of southern Idaho.
“It’s going to remain an active pattern but it’s not expected to be as bad as the last storm,” said Dave Groenert, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boise. “It’s a very wet spring so far.”
The wet spring, combined with a snowpack that’s 140 percent of average, has combined to raise a number of rivers and streams past flood stage.
“If we could get through this with dry weather it would be a nice, beneficial snowpack,” said Jay Breidenbach, a weather service hydrologist.
“But when it coincides with rain, that’s a dangerous situation.”
The next storm is expected this weekend, and another after that about midweek.
Flood warnings on the Portneuf River in southeastern Idaho and the Snake, Weiser and Bruneau rivers in southwestern Idaho remained in effect Thursday.
The Weiser River crested at 11.8 feet Wednesday, 2.3 feet above flood stage, and was still above flood stage Thursday, nearly closing Highway 95 and forcing some homes to be evacuated.
“I think it’s going to get below flood stage on Saturday,” said Breidenbach. “But we’ll have to monitor it very carefully. Fortunately, we have a break between storms allowing these rivers to recede a bit.”
The Bruneau River went above flood stage Thursday at just over 9 feet, but was not expected to threaten any homes. Breidenbach said it would have to get to 12 or 13 feet to do that.
The Snake River was rising rapidly Thursday near Weiser, Breidenbach said, approaching flood stage of 12 feet.
“We may get lucky on that one and stay below flood stage,” he said.
In Eagle, officials had to repair breaches in Dry Creek berms that caused flooding in one neighborhood.
The Portneuf River is expected to remain above flood stage of 8.5 feet through the weekend. The river flows through a concrete canal in Pocatello, but below town some minor lowland flooding is expected, said Dawn Harmon, a weather service meteorologist in Pocatello.
She also said that flooding along the Little Wood River could affect some county roads and low-lying farm lands.
An urban and small stream flood advisory for Lincoln County also was issued.
Parts of the state were also under high wind warnings.
On Tuesday, a small tornado touched down in Hagerman, west of Twin Falls, destroying a garage.
Portions of the Snake River Valley from Twin Falls to Burley were seeing winds up to 60 mph on Thursday.