Libby Dam flow update, area weather forecast

November 7, 2011
Current Koocanusa Reservoir inflow is ~3.9 thousand cubic feet per second (kcfs). Current Libby Dam outflow is ~six kcfs.

Outflow from Libby Dam will increase from six kcfs to 9 kcfs over two hours beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday, November 8 November. Total discharge will likely remain at nine kcfs until Tuesday, 15 November. The low, stable outflows are intended to help facilitate ecosystem habitat restoration work by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho near Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Current Koocanusa Reservoir elevation is 2447.7 feet.

The Northwest River Forecast Center creates daily forecasts for short term projections throughout the Kootenai and Columbia River Basins. These forecasts can be updated multiple times in a day and can be updated at anytime as conditions change. Links to those projections can be found  below:

Short term forecasts for Libby Dam elevations and inflows can be found here:
http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?lid=LYDM8

Short term forecasts for Libby Dam releases can be found here:
http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?lid=KBDM8

Short term forecasts for Bonners Ferry can be found here:
http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?lid=BFEI1

Please note the National Weather Service's disclaimer on forecasts after 3 days.

All forecasts and model projections are based on the best information at the current time, as the weather changes so will the short and long-term predictions.

Weather forecast: Kootenai/Cabinet region:

TONIGHT ... SNOW LIKELY. AREAS OF RAIN IN THE EVENING...THEN RAIN LIKELY AFTER MIDNIGHT. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT. LITTLE OR NO NEW SNOW ACCUMULATION. LOWS IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S.

TUESDAY ... RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY IN THE MORNING...THEN CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT. SNOW LEVEL 2500 FEET. LITTLE OR NO NEW SNOW ACCUMULATION. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S TO MID 40S.

TUESDAY NIGHT ... MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. PATCHY FREEZING FOG AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS IN THE 20S TO LOWER 30S.

WEDNESDAY ... MOSTLY CLOUDY. PATCHY FREEZING FOG IN THE MORNING. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S TO MID 40S.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT ... PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE 20S TO LOWER 30S.

THURSDAY ... PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE 30S TO LOWER 40S.

THURSDAY NIGHT ... PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN. LOWS IN THE 20S.

VETERANS DAY ... MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S TO MID 40S.

FRIDAY NIGHT ... MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN. LOWS IN THE 20S TO LOWER 30S.

SATURDAY ... RAIN SHOWERS LIKELY. CHANCE OF SHOWERS 80 PERCENT. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S TO LOWER 40S.

SATURDAY NIGHT ... RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 60 PERCENT. LOWS IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S.

SUNDAY ... RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT. HIGHS IN THE 30S TO LOWER 40S.

SUNDAY NIGHT ... RAIN SHOWERS LIKELY AND A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT. LOWS IN THE 20S.

MONDAY ... MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S TO LOWER 40S.