Warm weather could cause flooding in Eastern Washington

Published 11:12 pm Tuesday, May 13, 2008

SEATTLE — The National Weather Service says high temperatures in the 80s later this week across Washington will melt mountain snow and threaten flooding on some rivers.

The rivers most at risk are in Eastern Washington: the Naches, Yakima, Methow and Stehekin.

Forecasters say other rivers and streams could flood, especially if there is a thunderstorm in the watershed.

The National Weather Service says the snowpack is above normal for most of Washington — 129 percent to 287 percent of normal on the west side. Flooding is unlikely in Western Washington during the snowpack runoff.