March precipitation records shattered

March 31, 2012

Not that many weeks ago, locals expressed concern about the mild winter and low snow pack, fearing it bode ill for a dry summer and increased fire risk. But Mother Nature had a trick up her sleeve, bringing late snow fall and heavy, soaking March rains that have shattered precipitation records all across the Inland Northwest. The National Weather Service has once again extended a flood warning that had been set to expire at 11 a.m. today until 11 a.m. Sunday ... and the weather outlook makes it likely that the warning will be extended even further, as this is turning out to be by far the wettest March in the history of weather record keeping in Bonners Ferry. Those records have been kept here since 1907, when Theodore Roosevelt was President and Pike's Peak Market in Seattle opened. Before this year, 1950 was the wettest March in Boundary County, having brought 3.99 inches of moisture. In 1987, gray March skies brought 3.84 inches. With the last two days of March, 2012, uncounted and still dripping, however, this year Bonners Ferry has seen an astonishing 6.04 inches of moisture. And we're not the hardest hit. In Priest River, 6.57 inches of precipitation had fallen between March 1 and March 29, breaking the previous record of 5.99 inches in 1945; in Sandpoint, 7.88 inches fell this March, breaking the previous record of 6.7 inches that fell in March, 1997. Somewhat surprisingly, problems so far in Boundary County have been few, but local emergency managers are keeping a weather eye out, and have significant concerns that the situation may well change with little or no notice, and they encourage everyone in the county to take precautions and be prepared. The NWS forecast for the first week in April promises to keep the risk of flood high, along with the ancillary problems; mudslides, ground shift, falling trees and resulting power outages. This morning, some parts of Boundary County saw a dusting of snow, then a rain-snow mix, followed by pure rain, heavy at times. Some of us even heard the rumple of thunder. According to the National Weather Service, we can expect the same tomorrow, with snow before 11 a.m. down to 2,500 feet, turning to rain, with another quarter inch predicted. The cooler temperatures in the days ahead and dropping snow levels will decrease the amount of runoff in the mid- and high-elevations, and the National Weather Service predicts that rivers and streams will begin receding through next week, but the outlook isn't all that rosy. The chance of rain diminishes from an 80-percent likelihood Sunday to a 60-percent chance overnight, and Monday's chance is down still more, dropping to 40-percent, with less than a tenth of an inch expected. The odds that the rain will slow somewhat improve on Tuesday, with a 20 percent chance of rain under continued cloudy skies after 11 a.m. ... but we're also likely to see our warmest day yet this spring, with a high temperature of 57 degrees predicted, which will help increase the amount of snowpack turning to water and coming down. Tuesday night, the chance of precipitation jumps to 60-percent. While the odds slowly diminish as we head towards next weekend, it's expected that we'll stay cloudy and that more rain will fall, and we could even see the snow level drop to 2,100 feet on Friday ... though a splash of sunshine is predicted next Saturday, along with a 30-percent chance of more rain. There is a ray of hope, however. The National Weather Service is still reporting that Highland Flats Road is closed and that Cow Creek Road has washed out ... neither of which are true. Deep Creek Loop was closed to small cars for a short time Friday and Cow Creek had some water over the roadway, but efforts by Boundary County emergency responders resolved those issues, and as of this report (10:20 p.m.), there are no road closures in Boundary County due to flooding, though there have been numerous reports of flooded basements as well as a report of a mudslide affecting the Burlington Northern Railroad in the Crossport area. While Boundary County Emergency Management, law enforcement and fire crews throughout the county are there to help should disaster strike, they rely on and ask for the vigilance of local residents and property owners, who know or are learning the risks specific to their piece of property, to do all they can to stave off the risk of damage, and to ask and enlist the aid of neighbors if needed to take preemptive action, such as sandbagging, clearing out clogged stream channels when it's safe to do so, moving livestock and possessions to higher ground. In potentially trying days such as these, newcomers to Boundary County quickly learn what the old timers know as gospel; the greatest strength of this community is its propensity for neighbors helping neighbors ... we might argue and bicker with one another at all other times, but when the need arises, we stand shoulder to shoulder and do what needs to be done. Sandbags and sand are available for free to county residents at the county landfill, sandbags can also be picked up at county road and bridge. Those who see problems, such as flooded roads, wash-outs or mudslides are asked to contact the Sheriff's Office as soon as possible by calling (208) 267-3151, extension 0, so that appropriate steps can be taken before a minor situation turns into a crisis; those facing imminent potential to life or their property should immediately call 911.