White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-04-25
Possibility OF
Floods Along
Columbia River
Run off From Cascade And
Kootenay Watersheds
Heavy

ditions should a pronounced warm
spell occur in the mountainous re-
gions which are drained by the Col
umbia river during the latter part OF
May or early in June is indicated IN
the April 16 bulletin Of the Cllmato-
logical report from Portland on the
seasons snowfall in the Columbia
drainage basin.
Last years excessive rainfall and
mild weather during the winter months
in the Cascade regions resulted IN an
unusual run-of early in March and
crest of about sixteen feet at the Port
land harbor. This year, the normal
crest of 20 feet is indicated with prob
able flood conditions above the mouth
of the Snake river. Below normal
snowfall in the Blue Mountains, the
use of water for irrigation and reser-
yoirs and slightly below average
snowfall in the upper Snake basin as
compared with heavy snowfalls IN the
Cascades account for this prediction.
There is deep snow In the Cascades,
but much of this will be out OF the
way before the time for the crest IN
the Columbia The flow from northern
Idaho and western Montana is expected
to be somewhat less than normal.
There is much low snow in places held
back by the low temperature OF March
and this is now coming out rapidly
However, much Of the high snow IS
unusually compact and will melt more
slowly than usual, thus prolonging the
flow.
There was considerably more than
the normal depth Of snow on the
ground at the end of March at most
stations IL the mountains of Washing
ton. The average excess for seven OF
the highest stations in the Cascade
range that are in the Columbia drain
age basin, was AZ per cent, ranging
from II per cent to 81 per cent; how
ever, at lower elevations the range was
much greater, being from slightly less
than normal to more than three times
the usual depth The soil is moist I'M
der the snow and ground is unfrozen.
Snow depths over the elevated re-
gions of Idaho are greater than re-
corded at this time last year and range
from somewhat below normal to nor
NAL or slightly above. In most areas
the snow is solid and we'll packed and
of high water content, comparing IA
vorably with normal and greater than
last year. The maximum flow will &C.
cur later than last year, indications
being that it will occur during the
latter part Of May or early in June.
During the winter of 1934-35, snow
fall in western Montana was almost
everywhere heavier than last year and
above the normal except in the Bitter
root and Flathead valleys. Snowfall
stores in the mountains on March 81
in the more northern sections were
mostly hard packed and covered wet
and unfrozen soil. The maximum
stream flow anticipated from existing
snow melting at normal rate will
be greater than last year and about
or little below the normal volume
In this state.
In Wyoming an IS to 80 per CEN
normal runoff is expected should thu
precipitation be normal. The average
depth of snow was almost normal. Thu
soil is more moist than year ago, bu
due to the previous drought condition.
there will be considerable more waite
absorbed at the lower levels than nor
mally.
The snowfall in that part Of British
Columbia which is drained by the Col
umbia river has been above norma
and, owing to cold spring, the run
off from this area has been small
Should there be pronounced warn
spell in May or June along the Koot
enay, flood conditions may becom
serious along the Columbia river.
On Wednesday, the river was re
ported as being almost seven feet lowe
than at this time last year at tn
Coyote pumping plant.