COEUR d’ALENE — Area roads could start impersonating rivers when temperatures increase next week.

Coeur d’Alene Press Meteorologist Randy Mann said Thursday that although temperatures will briefly go down this weekend, a warming pattern will arrive by Valentine’s Day. That pattern could bring temperatures as high as 50 degrees.

“With this type of pattern, you’re going to get a gradual to steady melt. It’s going to be creating a few problems here and there,” Mann said. “To really get the nasty flooding, there needs to be strong winds and rain on top of the accumulated snow. But we don’t see that coming.”

Snowfall and sleet hitting the region Wednesday caused severe road conditions early Thursday morning, prompting schools throughout Kootenai County to close. On Thursday, temperatures warmed above 40 degrees, melting ice and snow accumulation.

Agencies throughout Kootenai County were already beginning to deal with the melty conditions Thursday. Mike Lenz, with the Idaho Transportation Department, told The Press his agency met Thursday to discuss ways to deal with snowmelt

accumulation on area roads.

Crews will be digging channels through snowpacks, Lenz said, to ensure the water has someplace to go besides roads.

“Our focus this weekend and next week will be to just get that snowmelt off the roadways,” Lenz added. “We do not want it trapped.”

Kootenai County is in flood watch because of minor urban flooding, according to Director of the Office of Emergency Management Sandy Von Behren. Von Behren’s office is working closely with the National Weather Service to monitor the water levels of local rivers.

“Those levels are rising, but there is currently no threat of river flooding,” Von Behren said, adding they’re closely monitoring the Coeur d’Alene River because of heavy rainfall and snowmelt in Shoshone County.

In Coeur d’Alene, Assistant Streets Superintendent Mike Willis said the department is continuing to clear storm drains in an effort to reduce on-street flooding. Willis said crews are focusing on opening drains that pose safety issues for motorists, and eliminating “ponding” that could damage property.

“Please be vigilant for crews responding to these ponding issues and slow down as you pass through the work zone,” Willis said. “Crews are currently working around the clock to keep streets and property safe during this thawing event.”

Mann said total snowfall in the region is 87 inches this winter, and will easily get to 90 inches before the season ends. There’s even the possibility, he added, for triple-digit snowfall, which would be the fourth time in the last decade the region will have seen that much snow.