Hot weather sends surge of snowmelt down streams

Hot weather through Tuesday has sent a surge of snow melt water into rivers of the region.

The impacts are being seen along the east side of the Cascades, north central Washington and North Idaho where rivers drain some the high peaks of the region.

Highs in the 80s and lower 90s are gone for now with a return to more typical spring weather.

Thursday has the greatest chances of showers in the afternoon and evening.

Friday and Saturday are shaping up to be warm and sunny.

In Spokane, the high on Friday should reach 71 and then go to 81 on Saturday.

Another weather disturbance is expected on Sunday and a return to highs in the lower 70s.

Lows should be in the upper 40s to lower 50s.

The Okanogan River at Tonasket was running at minor flood stage on Wednesday and is expected to reach moderate flood stage over the weekend.

The Kootenai River at Bonners Ferry was forecast to remain high but below flood stage.

The Kettle River near the Canadian border was likely to reach minor flood stage this weekend.

On the east slopes of the Cascades, the high flows are reported on the Stehekin, Entiat, Methow and Naches rivers.

While last weekend’s weather was dominated by a ridge of higher air pressure, the change that arrived Tuesday night is being caused by a large low pressure area in the Gulf of Alaska.

The low is big enough to create a mild southwesterly flow over the Inland Northwest with embedded disturbances on Thursday and again on Sunday.

Thunderstorms are possible on Thursday after 11 a.m.

Any rain amounts will be light except beneath thunderstorms.

“The (Thursday) afternoon thunder threat will be east of a line from Republic to Ritzville to Pendleton,” forecasters said in an online weather discussion.

“Shower and thunderstorm chances will increase Saturday night and Sunday as the low begins to swing through the region and drags a cold front into the region,” forecasters said.