Numerous areas across the Idaho Panhandle dealt with flooding during the second week of February. While minor flooding is a common occurrence during the late winter months when warmer temperatures, wind, and rain fall on valley snowpack, there was one ingredient of this event that made it unique and rather intense for many locations. This was the intrusion of two Arctic air masses; one in December and one in February. These bitterly cold air masses arrived in the absence of valley snow pack and froze the ground hard and deep. Shortly after the second Arctic air mass, snow began falling across the region with anywhere between six and twelve inches of valley snowfall. Then came an atmospheric river. This drove temperatures and dewpoints above freezing, led to windy conditions, and brought moderate to heavy rainfall. Nearly all the valley snowpack melted in a span of 24 hours.  Due to the rock hard ground, rain and snow melt could not percolate into the frozen ground equating to nearly 100 percent runoff.  This led to big problems in hilly terrain, low spots, and areas susceptible to poor drainage.  Some school districts were forced to delay school because buses were unable to navigate muddy or flooded back roads.

Flood in WHITMAN, WASHINGTON
From 12-FEB-14 12:00:00 to 14-FEB-14 12:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: LAMONT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 600.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous areas of northern and central Whitman County experienced flooding between the 12th and 14th.  State route 23 was closed between Sprague and Saint John between mileposts 15 and 43 due to water over the roadway in several locations.    Colfax, WA experienced heavy flooding closing Mill Street from Canyon to Spring which also included mileposts 0 to 1 of SR 272.  Flood waters up to a foot were observed in portions of downtown Colfax.  Water undercut part of the roadway on SR27 five miles south of Oakesdale washing out part of the northbound lane.  Several homes in the community of Ewan were inundated with up to one foot of water.

Flood in SPOKANE, WASHINGTON
From 12-FEB-14 12:00:00 to 14-FEB-14 12:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: COEY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous areas across Spokane County experienced flooding on the 12th of February.  Due to frozen grounds, the flood problems persisted through the 14th in some cases.  A small ice jam on Coulee Heights Creek caused the creek to become diverted and flow into a private residence.  Water was approximately five feet deep in the garage and surrounding home.  A NWS employee observed up to two inches of water with some mud and small  debris flowing down Rambo Road just north of the Forecast Office.  Water was over a foot deep along the shoulders.  The swift water washed out portions of the shoulder and foundation to the edges of the pavement.  A few blocks away from the Forecast Office, water flooded the West Prairie Village Mobile home park located on the corner of Craig and Haid Lane.  It was estimated that one to two feet of water filled sections of the park.  In southern sections of the county, many secondary roads were flooded in low crossings.  State route 27 just north of Latah near milepost 58 was impassible for a period of time due to water over the road.  Water was also over the roadway along SR 2 two miles west of Airway Heights.  Damage extended into the Spokane Valley with damage or flooding observed near the intersection of Sanson and MacDonald, Crown Street at Forker Draw, Ridgemont Estates on Shamrock Street, and Thorpe Road at Chester Creek.

Flood in ADAMS, WASHINGTON
From 12-FEB-14 12:00:00 to 13-FEB-14 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: LAUER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Areas of flooding were observed across portions of northern and eastern Adams County.  State route 21 nine miles south of Odessa was flooded for a period of time.

Flood in LINCOLN, WASHINGTON
From 12-FEB-14 12:00:00 to 14-FEB-14 12:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: CRESCENT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 600.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous areas across Lincoln County dealt with flooding between the 12th and 14th.  Some sections of highways that were flooded include SR 23 between mileposts 57 and 60 south of Harrington, SR 231 between mileposts 36 and 42 near Reardon, SR 231 between mileposts 18 and 19 near Edwall, SR 25 between Davenport and Lake Roosevelt, and SR 21 between mileposts 57 and 60 near Harrington.  A creek that runs through the middle of the Edwall flooded the Post Office and adjacent businesses with one to two feet of water.  Edwall-Reardon school district was forced to delay school openings because buses were struggling to navigate muddy dirt roads.  A tech company located on SR 231 reported 30 inches of water flooded its manufacturing facility.  Fortunately, the staff was able to get all valuable equipment off the floor before the flood waters entered.

Flood in STEVENS, WASHINGTON
From 12-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 14-FEB-14 06:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: LOON LAKE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter located three miles northeast of Loon Lake reported two to three inches of standing water on property and around the area.  There were no known road closures from flooding.