Danger of flooding is remote

Area rivers are running swiftly after rising temperatures this weekend melted snowpack in the Flathead River basin's higher elevations, but the flood danger largely has passed.

While the potential for additional flooding this season may be remote, higher-than-average snowpack in elevations above 7,000 feet should keep stream flows above average throughout July and August, according to National Weather Service hydrologist Ray Nickless.

Snowpack in the Flathead River basin's lower and middle elevations has mostly disappeared, but there is still 37 inches of water content in the snowpack at Badger Pass (near the headwaters of the Middle Fork) and 36 inches of water content in the snowpack on Flattop Mountain in Glacier National Park.

For this time of year, the 30-year average for water content at Badger Pass is 6.1 inches and the 30-year average for water content on Flattop Mountain is 18 to 19 inches.

"We've still got quite a bit of snow up there," Nickless said. "We're still going to have high water."

In the short term, river levels are forecast to drop throughout the week as temperatures in the higher elevations dip - reaching the 60s during the day and falling into the 40s during the night.

The Flathead River at Columbia Falls rose to 11.68 feet Monday, but is expected to fall to below 8 feet by early July. Flood stage is 14 feet.

The Middle Fork near West Glacier rose to 7.66 feet Monday, but is expected to fall below 5 feet by early July. Flood stage is 10 feet.

The North Fork rose to 9.5 feet Monday, but is expected to fall to below 6.5 feet by early July. Flood stage is 12 feet.

Water levels on the Whitefish River near its mouth in Kalispell, the Stillwater River at Lawrence Park, and the Swan River near Bigfork also are predicted to steadily drop.

River levels may climb again next week as temperatures at higher elevations rise again.

"High flows, like we're seeing now, could pick up again as we go into next week," Nickless said.

River levels will continue to fluctuate with changing temperatures until the snowpack has melted past the point where it can cause high water in rivers.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com