As mercury soars, rivers could rise

by Mark Morey
Yakima Herald-Republic

Weather forecasters and emergency managers are keeping an eye on local rivers as mountain snowmelt raises the possibility of flooding.

The Naches and Yakima rivers -- those historically most likely to flood in this region -- are not expected to spill over their banks, according to the National Weather Service.

But Jim Hall, emergency management director for Yakima, said river residents should remain watchful.

The extra water from snow melting in the mountains can sometimes erode banks or cause the channel to change course, he said.

"We'll have to wait and see what Mother Nature has in store for us," Hall said.

The Naches River, often the more troublesome of the local waterways, was at 90 percent of its bankfull level and forecast to go above bankfull by the weekend, according to the Northwest River Forecast Center. But there would still be another foot of water required for the river to reach flood stage.

The increased runoff is being caused by higher temperatures forecast through the weekend in combination with higher-than-usual snowpack in the mountains. Snowpack ranges from 108 percent to 230 percent of normal on the east side of the Cascade range.

The high today in the Yakima area is expected near 74 degrees and will climb through Saturday to around 92, according to the National Weather Service.

The commercial Accuweather service predicted Saturday's temperature at 98, which would break the record of 97 degrees set in 2006.

The weather is expected to begin cooling next week. Sunday starts off with a high near 79, with temperatures in the 60s and 70s expected for Monday and Tuesday.

 

* Mark Morey can be reached at 577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.

 

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Check current river conditions online at the Northwest River Forecast Center, www.tinyurl.com/5a8vsm.

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