Tag Archives: flood forecast

Warming weather brings flooding concerns

May 13, 2014Flood Information, Newsflood forecast, weathernfpa

Expected increased runoff from near-record snowpack is triggering warnings about rising river levels.

Reminder: The Flood Information page has links to flood-related information, including river levels, snowpack data and forecasts. . . .

Warm weather could cause area rivers to reach flood stage this week, due in part to a deep mountain snowpack. The National Weather Service in Missoula issued a hydrologic outlook on May 12 for much of western Montana in advance of the rising temperatures.

According to NWS-Missoula meteorologist Trent Smith, the snowpack in the Flathead Basin is 148 percent of normal for this time of year and if it melts rapidly that could cause problems for communities downstream. The snowpack is even larger in other areas.

“There is still plenty of moisture in the mountains and so those small rivers and streams will be running high this week,” Smith said.

Read more . . .

Hefty snowpack to raise streams across Northern Rockies

May 11, 2014Flood Information, Newsflood forecast, Northern Rockies, snowpacknfpa

Looks like we’re due for above average runoff over the next few months . . .

A hefty mountain snowpack in the Northern Rockies has driven down the summer wildfire potential and bumped up prospects that farmers in most of Montana and Wyoming won’t go dry.

As for flooding, government forecasters say the coming weeks will make all the difference.

A relatively even warm-up would keep streams and rivers in check. Too much warm weather and flooding could threaten downstream communities.

Read more . . .

Some Northwest Montana rivers and streams could approach flood stage by midweek

May 14, 2012Flood Information, Newsflood forecast, North Fork Flathead Rivernfpa

The current unseasonably warm weather will get snowpack runoff moving at a faster pace. Some Northwest Montana rivers and streams could approach flood stage by midweek. Locally, the North Fork Flathead River is forecast to get within half a foot of flood stage at the Canadian border by Wednesday, lasting through the end of the week. See the Flood Information page for links to further information.

“Flood Information” page updated for 2012 season

April 28, 2012Site Updatesflood forecast, floodingnfpa

We’ve updated the “Flood Information” page. Mostly, this meant tossing the stale links and making sure the other stuff was still working properly.

There’s no excitement forecast for the North Fork of the Flathead River yet. It just seemed like a good idea to get the page brushed up before the spring runoff really gets moving.

Local rivers still running high

July 3, 2011Flood Information, NewsFlathead River Valley, flood forecastnfpa

The National Weather Service is still concerned about local flooding potential. From the Daily Inter Lake . . .

While the threat of flooding has waned on most Western Montana rivers, that is not the case for the Flathead and Swan rivers, which are expected to remain near or over flood stage possibly for the next two weeks.

The Flathead River at Columbia Falls rose nearly three feet Wednesday and Thursday to flows just shy of the river’s 14-foot flood stage. While the Flathead River has gone up and down over the last few weeks, it is expected to remain high with no significant declines over the next week at least.

“The Flathead River is going to be a big concern over the next week or maybe the next two weeks,” said Dan Zumpfe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Missoula.

Continue reading . . .

Cool weather might keep main rivers below flood stage

June 24, 2011Flood Information, Newsflood forecast, floodingnfpa

Looks like flooding concerns are easing off a bit. Here’s an early morning post to the Daily Inter Lake . . .

A couple of warm days and a few heavy rainstorms haven’t resulted in many changes to area river levels, Flathead County Office of Emergency Services Director Scott Sampey said Thursday.

But, that could change, he said.

Forecasts call for the main Flathead River and the Middle Fork at West Glacier to reach action stage today or Saturday.

Continue reading . . .

Rain, warm weather to bring new flooding to parts of western Montana

June 23, 2011Flood Information, Newsflood forecast, flooding, North Fork Flathead Rivernfpa

Some of the discussion below doesn’t match the current North Fork flood gauge forecasts, but it behooves everyone to keep an eye on the river for the next two or three days. Also, the flood watch released yesterday is still in effect.

From the Missoulian . . .

Warm weather and a deep mountain snowpack will continue to cause concern for western Montana in coming days.

Flooding is expected across the region, starting late Thursday for many smaller tributaries and creeks. Flooding along major rivers is expected late Friday and early Saturday, said Dan Zumpfe, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Missoula…

As for the Flathead, snowmelt from Canada will push the river to flood stage, likely causing problems for communities such as Polebridge and Columbia Falls.

“All (of the rivers) will be going at or above flood stage in the late Friday/early Saturday time frame,” Zumpfe said. “The good thing about this warmup is that it is short lived.”

Continue reading . . .

Warming trend will cause Flathead River rise

June 21, 2011Flood Information, Newsflood forecast, North Fork Flathead, river levelsnfpa

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.

Continue reading . . .

Colder temperatures predicted to ease river levels

June 16, 2011Flood Information, Newsflood forecastnfpa

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.

Continue reading . . .

Western Montana rivers to stay within inches of flood stage

June 11, 2011Flood Information, Newsflood forecast, flooding, river levelsnfpa

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…

Continue reading . . .