Rain keeps falling, but flood threat is minimal

June announced its arrival in the Flathead Valley with near-record rainfall, soaking the landscape with about an inch and half of water in two days.

By Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service had measured 1.3 inches of rainfall at Glacier Park International Airport. Other locations, such as Bigfork, have had as much as 2 inches from Tuesday through Thursday morning.

Record rainfall from June 1-4 was 2.5 inches in 1966, according to forecaster Mike Johnson of the weather service in Great Falls.

"We're in that ballpark this year," he said, and certainly in the top 10 level for June rainfall recorded since 1899.

The Flathead is escaping flood concerns such as those reported along the Continental Divide, where on Thursday the weather service issued small stream advisories, mainly around the Lincoln Pass area.

The weather service hydrologist said waterways in the Flathead were too low to begin with for much flooding risk now. Although area rivers have risen, they're still far below flood stage.

The main Flathead River near Columbia Falls, for example, was running at a little over 6 feet on Thursday; flood stage is 13 feet.

Total precipitation for the year is still below normal, but "this is helping," Johnson said.

Moisture for the calendar year is still about 1.84 inches below normal, Johnson said. Precipitation is also measured in a "water year" that starts Oct. 1. That figure is 2.56 inches below the normal mark, he said.

The local forecast calls for rainfall to ease off beginning today as this wet system moves to the east. No precipitation is expected on Saturday - a day when four high school graduations are planned in the Flathead Valley.

"It should be a fairly nice day," Johnson said.

The next storm system should arrive on Sunday afternoon, he said, with the promise of more rain for Northwest Montana.

Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com