Flood in Latah County, Idaho

The USGS Stream Gage on Paradise Creek at Moscow reported a rapid rise during the afternoon of February 7th. The creek rose above the Flood Stage of 9.2 feet at 9:30 PM PST on February 7th, crested at a stage of 9.3 feet at 1:15 AM February 8th, and dropped back below Flood Stage at 2:00 AM February 8th.

Beginning February 6th through the 8th, a stalled atmosphere river was followed by shortwave trough bringing record breaking moderate to heavy precipitation. This lead to a mix of heavy rain and wet snow which caused sharp rises in small streams and creeks across parts of central Idaho Panhandle into the Camas Prairie. With at or above freezing temperatures and high snow levels, snow melt was another contributor to the rises during this period.

Numerous sites reached 24 hour total rainfall of 1 or greater on February 6th. The ASOS station at Lewiston Airport had a record breaking rain fall of 1.24. Numerous MESONET sites in Nez Perce and Lewis counties received over 1 (ex. 5 NW Winchester, 1.56; 12 S Waha, 1.56; 4.1 SSW Lapwai, 1.47).

Late February 7th, there were reports of flooding in small streams and rivers in northern Nez Perce county. Trained spotters reported flooding on Lapwai Creek, Potlatch River, Mission Creek, and Cottonwood Creek. In Latah County, sharp rises on Paradise Creek reached flood stage in Moscow leading to water overflowing out of storm drains. Minor flooding was reported with the crest occurring late Friday evening.