PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (WA) Flooding in eastern Washington

Date: Wed, 09 May 2018 17:42:01 EDT

Summary: Snowmelt in northeastern Washington is causing flooding now and through the weekend.

With the snow pack in the Upper Columbia Basin in northeast Washington at 140 percent of normal and above normal snowpack throughout the rest of Washington State, flooding is expected this week on rivers on the east side of the Cascades due to snowmelt as temperatures begin to rise. The Kettle and Okanagan Rivers in north-central Washington near the Canadian border are forecasted to exceed Major Flood stage beginning on Thursday and peak this weekend as the temperature in Spokane is expected to reach 75 degrees. The Similkameen River, located in the same general area, is forecasted to exceed the Moderate Flood stage. Other rivers on the east side that are expected to exceed their flood stage this week include the Pend Oreille, Methow, Stehekin, and Naches Rivers. Two crews from our Upper Columbia Field Office in Spokane and one crew from our Mid Columbia Field Office in Kennewick will be out this week and this weekend to make discharge measurements and maintain the gaging stations. There have been no reports of any failing gages yet.