Floods still in forecast

The Daily Inter Lake

The National Weather Service adjusted streamflow projections for Northwest Montana on Friday, with flooding still in the forecast.

Projections generated by the service's River Forecast Center in Portland just after noon show several rivers in the region approaching or exceeding flood stage starting this afternoon.

The Yaak River near Troy is projected to peak at 8.28 feet, just over its 8-foot flood stage

The Fisher River near Libby is expected to reach its 7.5-foot flood stage by noon today, peaking at 8.3 feet Sunday. The service is predicting the river will remain above flood stage through most of next week.

The North Fork Flathead River is expected to reach its 12-foot flood stage at Polebridge late Monday, and it is expected to gradually drop two feet by the end of next week.

The Middle Fork Flathead River at Essex is expected to reach its 10.5-foot flood stage by noon Sunday, peaking at 11.65 feet on Monday, and then dropping several feet by the end of next week.

The Middle Fork Flathead River at West Glacier is expected to reach its 10-foot flood stage by noon Saturday, peaking at 11.65 feet on Sunday.

The main stem Flathead River is expected to reach its 14-foot flood stage at Columbia Falls by noon Sunday, rising to a peak flow of 15.42 feet by noon Monday.

The main river was expected to rise more than 6 feet from Friday to Monday.

The forecast center does not project the Stillwater River to reach flood stage at Lawrence Park, and it is projecting that the Whitefish River will remain below flood stage.