Weather Service says flooding likely on Flathead, Swan to get close

By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle

Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Missoula predicted many area rivers will reach or exceed flood stage over the weekend and into next week during a conference call with reporters and government agencies on Thursday.

Temperatures that could graze 90 degrees on Saturday and stay in the high 80s until Monday are expected to cause the mountains to release large amounts of their above-average snowpack, according to NWS meteorologist Bruce Bauck.

"The amount of heating over the next three days is a record for this time of year," he said.

The high-pressure weather system is expected to keep temperatures in the mountains in the 50s and 60s at night, accelerating melting.

The areas expected to be the hardest hit in Flathead County are Columbia Falls along the main stem of the Flathead River and the Middle Fork of the Flathead near West Glacier. The Middle Fork is expected to crest more than a foot above flood stage at 11.26 feet on Monday at West Glacier. At Columbia Falls, the Flathead should crest on Tuesday at 15.85 feet — flood stage is 14 feet — according to the weather service.

The Swan River in Bigfork is not expected to reach its flood height of six feet, but looks to crest at 5.67 feet on Tuesday into Wednesday.

NWS Hydrologist Ray Nickless said the snowpack in the Swan Mountains is lower than other ranges around Northwestern Montana and as a result said, "we're not expecting it (the Swan River) to flood."

The Weather Service does not have a gauge near the mouth of the Flathead River, but expects that some lower valley farmland could be at risk as streamflows upriver increase.

A weather system is expected to move into the area on Tuesday bringing cooler temperatures and possible precipitation, according to Bauck. The cooler weather is expected to do more good than the precipitation does harm, and river levels should start to recede.

The public can access local flood predictions at http://www.weather.gov.

Agencies around the state are cautioning residents who live in at-risk areas to prepare for the worst and take precautions to prevent damage to health and property.

The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation urged residents to stay tuned to radio or television for updates and to be aware of flash flood potential.

If evacuation becomes necessary, the DNRC reminds people that it is not safe to walk through moving water and that driving through flooded areas should be avoided.