SANDPOINT — Mother Nature hurled a curve ball Wednesday as waterfront landowners in Bonner County brace for expected flooding.

The National Weather Service reported on that scattered showers and thunderstorms was moving into the northern Panhandle. Most of the thunderstorm activity was expected mainly north of Usk, but was expected to impact Newport and Clark Fork by the evening.

“Thunderstorms will be capable of heavy downpours, pea-sized hail and occasional lightning strikes,” the Weather Service said in a short-term forecast.

Heavy rain is forecast for Thursday, followed by likely showers in the evening. A chance of showers is forecast for Friday, followed by clearing skies on Saturday.

Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River remain under a flood warning until further notice.

The lake stage was at 2,062.94 feet on Wednesday, just below the lake’s flood stage of 2,063.5 feet.

The Weather Service said the lake is expected to surpass flood stage by Friday and continue to rise to near 2,065.3 by the middle of next week.

“Additional rises are possible thereafter,” the flood warning advised.

Flooding of some lakeside homes and docks is likely once the lake reaches a level of 2,065.5 feet. Portions of Lakeview Avenue in Bayview will flood if the lake reaches 2,065.75 feet, according to the Weather Service.

This year’s flooding was initially anticipated to be comparable to flooding in 2011-2012, when the lake reached an elevation of 2,064.3 feet. It now appears flooding could be comparable to 1997, when the lake reached 2,065.74 feet.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.