Spokane set daily rainfall record on Sunday

Spokane set a daily record on Sunday with 1.33 inches of rainfall that was strong enough to back up catch basins and wash dirt and debris onto sidewalks and streets. The previous daily record was 1.18 inches in 2012, a year that turned out to be especially wet in March. The two-day rainfall total at Spokane International Airport was 1.51 inches. The storm ended a dry spell that dates back to Feb. 11 with the exception of a very weak storm on March 2 that brought 0.04 inches of rain. Across the Inland Northwest, the two-day storm brought upwards of 2 inches or more of rain to mountains in North Idaho and northwest Montana. The Coeur d’Alene River was expected to rise to just under flood stage at Cataldo later today and stay at that level through the evening before starting to fall, the National Weather Service said. The Yaak River is expected to cause minor flooding through Tuesday. The weather service issued a flood warning for the northwest Montana stream. Rain also fell across the Columbia Basin growing areas. Odessa had 0.85 inches from the storm while Lind had 0.62 inches. That much rain will help winter wheat grow healthy. Another Pacific storm is due over the region on Tuesday and Tuesday night with rainfall amounts of a quarter inch or more possible. Temperatures should stay relatively mild with highs in the 50s and lows in the upper 30s. Thursday should see a return of sunshine with a high of about 60. Yet another rainstorm is possible by Friday.