SANDPOINT - Higher-than-normal precipitation is setting up the likelihood that Lake Pend Oreille elevation and Pend Oreille River flows below Albeni Falls Dam will exceed flood stage as early as this week.

The dam is currently under a free-flow operation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, meaning all gates are fully open and the only restriction is the natural one between the lake and the dam.

Lake elevations are forecast to be higher than 2,062.5 feet above sea level for a week or more. Areas downstream of the lake, such as Newport, Cusick and Usk could be affected by high flows while the dam is on free-flow, according to the corps.

Current snowpack upstream of the lake ranges between 125-175 percent of normal. As a result, those in flood-prone areas are urged to take precautions and be prepared for flooding.

"Corps modeling using the National Weather Service River Forecast Center hydrologic forecasts suggest we could see peak Lake Pend Oreille elevations ranging between 2,062.5 and 2,063.7 feet and outflows exceeding 100,000 cubic feet per second," said Kristian Mickelson, an Upper Columbia Water manager for the corps.

The lake's elevation is currently about 2,060 feet, Mickelson said.

The lake is expected to reach an initial peak in the first 10 days of June and then may be drafted down below 2,062 feet by mid-June to conserve space for late-June rain events.

The lake's flood stage is 2,063.5 feet. At this elevation, minor flooding of dock ramps, yards and recreation sites around the site can be expected. Some erosion damage from wave action is also possible along the windward shores.

The most recent historical crest of the lake occurred in June 2011, when the elevation reached 2,064.29 feet, National Weather Service records indicate.