Tag Archives: flooding

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

Flood Information, News, ,

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 . . .

Flood watch issued for all stems of the Flathead river from Friday through Sunday morning

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The National Weather service has issued a flood watch for the upper end of the Flathead drainage. Currently, they are forecasting a brief period of flooding for the North Fork at the Canadian border starting late Thursday/early Friday, but not for Polebridge. Here’s the official wording . . .

… Flood Watch in effect for all stems of the Flathead river from Friday morning through Sunday morning…

The National Weather Service in Missoula has issued a

* Flood Watch for all stems of the Flathead river in northwest Montana… including the following County… Flathead.

* From Friday morning through Sunday morning

* warm temperatures this week have enhanced melting of the record snow pack throughout the Flathead river basin. Steady rises on all stems of the Flathead river are forecast and flood stages may be reached as early as Friday.

* Small streams that feed the Flathead may also rise and approach flood levels this week and through the weekend.

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.

Larry Wilson: North Fork Road lake filled in

Commentary, News, , ,

In this week’s column for the Hungry Horse News, Larry Wilson discusses the condition of the North Fork Road (much improved) and recent activities at Sondreson Hall (very successful) . . .

The river continues to run high and muddy, but so far no real damage from flooding. In my view, every day that passes makes a major flood less likely. I would not say a flood is impossible, but I sure think the chances are a lot less likely than they were two weeks ago.

The road is also better. Flathead County crews worked last week to at least mitigate the problems. Wurtz Hill was smoothed out somewhat, and the lowest slumps were evened out so that all of the ledges are gone and the hill is passable for passenger cars, but it’s still rough and drivers need to go slowly.

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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…

Continue reading . . .

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.

Continue reading . . .

North Fork should crest just below flood stage

Flood Information, News, , ,

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

Flood Information, News, ,

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…

Continue reading . . .