Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Cool weather reduces flood threat

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By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

The Big Wood River meandered primarily within its banks Tuesday as cooler weather slowed the melting of snow in the mountains.

A flood warning is no longer in effect for the Big Wood in Blaine County. The water level Tuesday afternoon, as measured at the Bullion Street Bridge in Hailey, was just under 4.5 feet, well below the 6-foot flood stage.

The Big Wood dropped below flood stage late last week after peaking at almost 8 feet on Sunday, May 21. Moderate flooding occurred in low-lying areas of Ketchum, Hailey, Bellevue and elsewhere.

Damage estimates were not yet available but authorities expect damage to roads that were under water for several days.

The National Weather Service predicted temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s in the Wood River Valley through Saturday with only a 10 percent chance of precipitation. The river level is expected to rise slightly through the week, peaking at 5.2 feet on Saturday.

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Sherrie Hebert, a hydrologist with the NWS Pocatello office, said the potential for flooding remains but shouldn't be significant unless there is heavy precipitation.

"There's definitely snow to come down still, but with this cold weather we had last weekend, it's going to take it a while to come down," Hebert said.