Flood threat persists

The Daily Inter Lake

The National Weather Service revised predicted flood crests slightly downward Saturday for all rivers except the Yaak in Northwest Montana, but flooding remains in the forecast.

Projections from the forecast center in Portland in early afternoon still show several rivers either approaching flooding or flooding.

The Fisher River near Libby was just under flood stage at 7.19 feet Saturday, with a projection of passing flood stage of 7.5 feet by today. The crest was revised slightly down from 8.3 feet to 8.29 feet.

With an increased projected crest at 9.02, the Yaak River is expected to hit flood stage at 8 feet today and remain above flood stage through Thursday.

The Flathead River at Columbia Falls is projected to reach flood stage of 14 feet late today or early Monday, and then recede Tuesday. The crest was revised Saturday from 15.42 to 14.76 feet.

Flooding at 10 feet was predicted by noon today on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River near West Glacier, with a crest at 10.94 feet forecast for noon Monday. It is expected to fall below flood stage Tuesday.

According to Saturday's projection, the North Fork of the Flathead at Polebridge will crest at 11.58 feet, just short of flood stage of 12 feet, at about noon Monday.

The Stillwater River at Lawrence Park on Saturday are expected to crest at 6.37 feet, below flood stage of 7 feet, by late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

The Whitefish River and Swan River also are not expected to flood.