A stagnant longwave pattern featuring a broad trough off the Pacific Northwest Coast and upper-level ridge over the Central US resulted in a parade of moist storm systems tracking through the Inland Northwest from March 28th through the 31st.  Each storm system deposited 0.25 to 0.75 inches of rainfall across most locations in the Idaho Panhandle with three day rainfall totals ranging from one to three inches.  This concluded record setting precipitation totals for the month of March.  With soils already saturated from heavy rain just a few days earlier and above normal snowpack still in  place in the mountains, portions of North Idaho experienced numerous floods, road washouts, and debris flows.  The most significant damage occurred in Bonner County which involved a train track washout, train derailment, and washout of a hundred foot length of road near Cocolalla Lake.

Flood in KOOTENAI, IDAHO
From 30-MAR-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-12 11:59:00 (PST-8)
Location: COEUR D ALENE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Two homes in Fernan Village were flooded by Fernan Lake.  Three other homes along the shores of the lake had their seawalls heightened with sandbags to prevent the lake from entering their homes.

Flood in KOOTENAI, IDAHO
From 30-MAR-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-12 18:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: COEUR D ALENE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Blue Creek Road washed out near Yellowstone Trail.

Flood in BONNER, IDAHO
From 31-MAR-12 08:35:00 to 31-MAR-12 09:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: FOREST SIDING
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 70.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Fourteen cars of an Union Pacific Train derailed when 350 feet of track was washed out near the intersection of Colburn and Selkirk Roads.  Six of the rail cars were carrying soybeans with the other eight cars empty.

Flood in BOUNDARY, IDAHO
From 30-MAR-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-12 11:59:00 (PST-8)
Location: CROSSPORT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Kootenai Trail Road was inundated with water from Cow Creek.

Flood in KOOTENAI, IDAHO
From 30-MAR-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-12 11:59:00 (PST-8)
Location: COEUR D ALENE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Flooding was reported along several low spots along Highway 97 between Cataldo and Harrison.  While the exact location was unknown, some residents were forced to sandbag to avoid flooded creeks from seeping into their homes.

Debris Flow in LEWIS AND SOUTHERN NEZ PERCE, IDAHO
From 30-MAR-12 12:50:00 to 30-MAR-12 13:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A mudslide partially blocked Highway 12 between mile marker 49 and 50.

Flood in BONNER, IDAHO
From 30-MAR-12 05:00:00 to 31-MAR-12 11:59:00 (PST-8)
Location: PRIEST RIVER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 72.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several roads were washed out, flooded, or experienced some damage across Bonner County due to high spring runoff caused by record March rainfall and excess snow melt.  These roads including Gold Creek (8 NE Sandpoint), Talache, East Shores Drive (4 NE Coolin), Geenan, Schneiders, Rapid Lightning Creek, Bowen Arrow (4 NE Colburn), and Merril Martin.  Six homes and some businesses were isolated due to road closures.  Five homes and some businesses had limited one lane access.

Flood in BONNER, IDAHO
From 30-MAR-12 16:00:00 to 31-MAR-12 11:59:00 (PST-8)
Location: WESTMOND
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 550.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

High runoff and saturated grounds from a month of record rainfall combined with excessive snow melt resulted in a major road washout under a section of Cocolalla Loop Road.  It was estimated that 25 feet of earth below the road, roughly 100 feet in length, was washed down the hillside as the underground culverts became overwhelmed or clogged.  The road washed out on March 31st.  Additional flooding was observed along the northeastern shores of Lake Cocolalla, specifically Melody Lane, where several secondary, recreational houses were inundated with water from the swollen lake.  Minor damage was also observed at a small wooden bridge where Cocolalla Creek crosses under Cocolalla Creek.

Flood in KOOTENAI, IDAHO
From 29-MAR-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-12 11:59:00 (PST-8)
Location: COEUR D ALENE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Excess runoff from heavy rain and snow melt resulted in sharp rises of Lake Coeur D Alene and minor flooding of its tributaries.  Kid Island Bay Road which parallels the eastern shores of Kid Island Bay, a small outlet on the northwestern sections of Lake Coeur D Alene, had several inches of water over the roadway.

Flood in BENEWAH, IDAHO
From 31-MAR-12 03:00:00 to 31-MAR-12 11:59:00 (PST-8)
Location: RIVERDALE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Saint Joe River at Saint Maries rose above the flood stage of 32.5 feet at 0300 PDT on March 31st, crested at 33.9 feet at 0600 PDT on April 1st, and receded below flood stage 2100 PDT on April 3rd.  Saint Joe City Road flooded.  Minor flooding was observed throughout low lying areas of the Saint Joe Valley and of the Aqua Park in Saint Maries.

Debris Flow in NORTHERN PANHANDLE, IDAHO
From 31-MAR-12 22:00:00 to 31-MAR-12 22:10:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A landslide occurred 20 miles east of Bonners Ferry along a section of Burlington Northern Track which connects Troy, Montana to Bonners Ferry, Idaho.  Large boulders slid onto the track causing twenty trains to be delayed but no damage.  A report suggested that the boulders fell from a hillside 150 feet above.

Flood in BOUNDARY, IDAHO
From 30-MAR-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-12 11:59:00 (PST-8)
Location: NAPLES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Portions of Old Highway 95, north of Naples, were flooded when heavy spring runoff flooded caused Deep Creek to flow out of its banks.

Flood in KOOTENAI, IDAHO
From 30-MAR-12 16:00:00 to 31-MAR-12 11:59:00 (PST-8)
Location: CATALDO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Coeur D Alene River at Cataldo went above flood stage of 43 feet at 1800 PDT on March 31st, crested at 45 feet 1100 PDT, and receded below 43 feet around noon on April 1st.  CCC Road at Cataldo flooded and was impassible.  Latour Creek Road at Cataldo also flooded but was passable.  Portions of Dudley Road, west of Latour Creek Road were underwater and impassible.  Wolf Creek and Kahnderosa RV Campgrounds flooded.  A few homes near the river experienced minor flooding of basements. Minor flooding was also observed in farmlands between Cataldo to Harrison.

Debris Flow in CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS, IDAHO
From 30-MAR-12 00:00:00 to 30-MAR-12 06:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 768.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A section of road and supporting earth along Dobson Pass Road broke loose and slid down the hillside rendering the road impassable.  This compromised emergency access to the communities of Prichard and Murray.

Debris Flow in CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS, IDAHO
From 30-MAR-12 00:00:00 to 30-MAR-12 04:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A landslide occurred along Forest Road 50 (St Joe River Road) at mile post 34.  The slide filled a ditch and blocked the eastbound lane.

Flood in SHOSHONE, IDAHO
From 28-MAR-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-12 11:59:00 (PST-8)
Location: PRICHARD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 340.20K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several days of moderate rain and excessive snow melt lead to numerous road washouts, plugged culverts, minor rock slides, flooded basements, and impassible roads from flooding across Shoshone County.  These roads included: Bear Creek, Ross Ranch, Riverview, French Gulch, Old CDA River, Golf Course, Kelly Gulch, Wier Gulch, Trapper Creek, Upper Pine Creek Bridge, Lynch Gulch, Galena Gulch, Daly Gulch, Nine Mile, Placer Creek, Revenue, Gulch, Mullan, Bingville, Willow Acres, Sunny Slopes, Nuchols Gulch, Tank Creek, North Side, Markwell (between 6th and 7th), and numerous sections of the Saint Joe River Road (Forest Road 50).  In addition, the flooding resulted in waste water overflow in the communities of Mullan, Osburn, and Smelterville with no known health risks at the time of the report.

Flood in BENEWAH, IDAHO
From 30-MAR-12 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-12 12:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: ST MARIES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 23.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

The Ridgeview Apartments located in Saint Maries had to be evacuated when Mutch Creek flooded its banks and began to seep into the building.