High water likely to hang around awhile

Flood concerns have prompted warnings from the National Weather Service in recent weeks. A wet spring combined with snowmelt has brought many rivers above flood stage.

Early this week, the Coeur d’Alene River at Cataldo, Idaho, crested at nearly 44 feet, about a foot above flood stage. The St. Joe River at St. Maries crested at nearly 36 feet and is also expected to stay above flood stage for the foreseeable future.

Chewelah Creek came out of its banks and closed down U.S. Highway 395 early this week. The Pend Oreille River is also on the rise and may pose a flood threat next week.

The Inland Northwest usually sees the greatest risk of high water during spring. It typically results from torrential thunderstorm downpours plus warm rains falling on melting snowpacks in the higher elevations. Much of this flooding generally occurs in the foothills of the Cascades, in the highlands of northeastern Washington as well as across portions of North Idaho and Western Montana this time of year.

Historically, Western Washington and the Inland Northwest have seen their share of high water. In November of 1990, there was widespread major flooding on Western Washington rivers, especially the ones in the northwest and several Eastern Washington rivers. The Interstate 90 Lake Washington floating bridge actually sank during that time. Two deaths were recorded and damage was estimated at $250 million.

In February 1996, widespread flooding was seen in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The rivers of Western and southeast Washington went far above flood stage. Major flooding occurred in North Idaho. Three deaths were reported in Washington with overall damage in the region estimated at a staggering $800 million.

Perhaps the worst flood in recent times across our region occurred in May and June of 1948, known as the “Greatest Spring Snowmelt Flooding.” This event is listed as the second-biggest weather event in Washington’s history.

During that time, there was widespread flooding in North Idaho and Eastern Washington, especially along the Columbia River. Below Priest Rapids in Washington, the Columbia River topped at 458.65 feet, an all-time record. Flood stage is 432 feet. At Lake Pend Oreille near Hope, Idaho, a crest of 2071.2 feet was measured with a flood stage of 2063.5 feet. Methow River at Pateros, Wash., hit 12.3 feet with a flood stage of only 10 feet. At the St. Joe River at Calder, Idaho, a record 18.1 feet was seen. That particular river’s flood stage is 13 feet.

In terms of our local weather, we’ll continue to have a pattern of sun and showers into early June before warmer and drier weather arrives around the middle of next month.