Category Archives: Flood Information

Warming trend will cause Flathead River rise

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The spate of warmer weather is expected to increase water flow in the Flathead River. The current forecast for the North Fork shows it exceeding flood level briefly at the Canadian border late Thursday/early Friday.

The Daily Inter Lake has a write-up . . .

With a significant warming trend expected this week, the National Weather Service is forecasting increased flooding potential for some Western Montana rivers, including the Flathead River.

The Flathead River at Columbia Falls could reach or exceed flood stage by Thursday or Friday, but other rivers such as the Whitefish and Stillwater Rivers are no longer expected to exceed flood stage without a major rain event, meteorologist Bruce Bauck said during a conference call on Monday.

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Colder temperatures predicted to ease river levels

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The crummy weather has an upside: It should help keep runoff under control and reduce flooding danger a bit. From the Missoulian . . .

Both the temperature and water levels are predicted to fall in the next several days, as a cold weather system moves into western Montana and slows the snowmelt that flooded low-lying areas in recent weeks.

A “very cold air mass” will lower daytime highs across western Montana to 10-15 degrees below normal through Friday, said National Weather Service meteorologist Bruce Bauck.

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Western Montana rivers to stay within inches of flood stage

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Looks like area rivers will run full but more-or-less within their banks for the next few days.

Here’s an overview of the situation from the Missoulian . . .

The 2011 flood season will go on hold for a few days while Mother Nature decides what to do next.

Most western Montana rivers passed their peak rise on Friday and were forecast to hold steady within a few inches of their initial flood stage, National Weather Service meteorologist Bruce Bauck said.

Those hydrographs should stay flat through the middle of next week as a cool, wet weather system moves across the state.

Unfortunately, that means the remaining mountain snowpack will remain a while longer, leaving the potential for future runoff surges…

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Area river levels drop but peak flows ahead

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By and large, local rivers crested just below flood stage after the last bout of wet weather. However, higher flows and river levels are likely as the weather continues to warm.

Today’s Daily Inter Lake has a write-up . . .

Although most area river levels have dropped, the National Weather Service is maintaining a flood warning for the Whitefish and Stillwater rivers into Saturday and a meteorologist warns that there are more peak flows to come on Northwest Montana waterways…

Most Northwest Montana rivers, including the North Fork, Middle Fork and main stem Flathead rivers, rose close to flood stage on Wednesday but flows have declined since then. …these are not peak flows for the spring runoff. Because of the persistent water-loaded snowpack, there can be more and higher peak flows in the weeks to come.

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Rising water forces closures at several Flathead National Forest access sites

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From today’s Missoulian . . .

Rising water levels on the Flathead River have forced closures at several access sites in the Flathead National Forest, U.S. Forest Service officials announced Wednesday.

The closures went into effect at access sites at West Glacier and Blankenship Bridge, while some sites at Big Creek Campground near the North Fork of the Flathead River, north of Columbia Falls, were also closed.

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Flathead rivers fall just short of flood stage

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From today’s Flathead Beacon . . .

While many residents across western Montana were waking up to raging rivers, those in Flathead and Lincoln counties had pretty much dodged the bullet.

By Thursday morning, no rivers in Northwest Montana had reached flood stage, as was predicted by the National Weather Service in Missoula on Wednesday afternoon. As a result all flood advisories had been lifted for both counties, with the exception of a river-specific warning on the Stillwater, according to meteorologist Jessica Nolte.

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Plenty of rain falls, but local rivers stay below flood stage

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So far, so good. It appears the North Fork is staying within its banks and the same is holding true for the general area.

From today’s Daily Inter Lake . . .

In spite of Wednesday’s rainfall, rivers in Flathead County remain inside their banks, the county’s emergency services director said late Wednesday afternoon.

Scott Sampey said water conditions didn’t change much between Tuesday and Wednesday. The North Fork was up a bit Wednesday and running muddy. The Middle Fork at West Glacier was up and the main Flathead River had risen near action stage, Sampey said.

“It could be that someone along any of these rivers gets flooded,” he said. But no county rivers are at flood stage yet, he said.

With more rain in the forecast for the next week, rivers should stay high, he said, but lower temperatures at the same time will prevent mountain snowpack from melting quickly.

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North Fork should crest just below flood stage

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This morning’s river level readings and forecast show the North Fork cresting a little below flood stage today both at the Canadian border and at Polebridge. Elsewhere in the area, minor flooding is expected for the Middle Fork at West Glacier and the main stem of the Flathead River near Columbia Falls.

Check out the links on the “Flood Information” page for more information.

Local rivers to flirt with flood stage

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The National Weather Service has backed off a bit on its flood forecast, now expecting area rivers to mostly just approach flood stage. Locally, the flood watch released this morning indicates the “North Fork and Middle Fork of the Flathead river will see increased rises in flows… and will have the potential to reach flood stage through midweek.”

Here’s the write-up from today’s Daily Inter Lake . . .

Flathead County officials are keeping an eye on area rivers, streams and lakes for the next couple of days, following higher weekend temperatures and a forecast for more rain in the next few days.

Scott Sampey, Flathead County director of emergency services, said all area rivers are expected to “get near or barely nip flood stage” on Wednesday. By the end of the week, river levels are expected to drop.

The National Weather Service in Missoula issued a flood watch for Flathead County on Monday afternoon. A flood watch means there is potential for flooding…

The weather service’s river level gauges indicate peak flows are expected at all county rivers mid-afternoon Wednesday…

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Flood Watch in effect through Tuesday afternoon

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From the National Weather Service . . .

Statement as of 10:40 AM MDT on June 06, 2011

… Flood Watch in effect through Tuesday afternoon…

The National Weather Service in Missoula has issued a

* Flood Watch for a portion of northwest Montana… including the following County… Flathead.

* Until further notice

* snowmelt will combine with excessive rainfall amounts through Tuesday evening. This will result in sharp increases in rivers and streams.

* All stems of the Flathead rivers… including the North Fork… Middle Fork… and main Stem will have the potential to reach flood stage by midweek.

Precautionary/preparedness actions…

A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts.

You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.