Flash Flood Watch in Effect For the Region Through 11P Tomorrow Night

nwsflashfloodlogo050423

SPOKANE, WA – The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for the region through 11:00 p.m. tomorrow night. Meteorologists say a long period of heavy rain will take place through early this weekend. The Watch remains in effect for the Orofino area until 2:00 p.m. Saturday.

Wet, slow-moving thunderstorms will develop across the southern to central Idaho Panhandle this afternoon and track into southeast Washington during the evening hours.

“Convective thunderstorms with heavy rain will transition to widespread rainfall causing already fast-moving rivers and creeks to continue to rise. Additional rainfall [in] areas that are flood-prone may cause creeks and streams to rise out of their banks,” the Watch says. “Thunderstorms will be capable of producing torrential downpours that could lead to flash flooding. Additional rain with showers will continue through Friday with rivers, small streams, and creeks remaining high.”

“Area rivers, creeks, and small streams are on the rise due to melting snow from the unseasonably warm weather and heavy rain on snowmelt will exasperate runoff. Heavy rain may also cause flooding of urban areas and flash flooding or debris flows, especially in steep terrain and near burn scars,” the NWS says.

The areas under the Flash Flood Watch include southeast Washington and north-central Idaho.

“Portions of Idaho, including the following counties, Benewah, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce and Shoshone. Portions of Southeast Washington, including the following counties, Asotin, Garfield and Whitman,” according to the NWS.

For tips on how to remain safe during flooding, visit HERE.

To monitor Northwest rivers, visit HERE.

From the NWS:

The areas under the Watch include

IDC009-057-061-069-079-WAC003-023-075-051015-
/O.CON.KOTX.FA.A.0002.230504T2100Z-230506T0600Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Benewah-Latah-Lewis-Nez Perce-Shoshone-Asotin-Garfield-Whitman-
Including the cities of Emida, Plummer, Santa, St. Joe, St.
Maries, Tensed, Moscow, Deary, Genesee, Juliaetta, Kendrick,
Potlatch, Craigmont, Kamiah, Mohler, Nezperce, Winchester,
Lewiston, Culdesac, Gifford, Lapwai, Peck, Cataldo, Kellogg,
Kingston, Murray, Osburn, Pinehurst, Prichard, Calder, Mullan,
Smelterville, Wallace, Clarkston, Clarkston Heights, Anatone,
Asotin, Dodge, Mayview, Peola, Pomeroy, Pullman, Colfax, La
Crosse, Oakesdale, Rosalia, and Uniontown
1211 PM PDT Thu May 4 2023

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.