Rivers rising again
Besides putting a damper on Memorial Day weekend festivities, rain this weekend is expected to give area river levels a small bump upwards.
"We're projecting rises, but not to flood level," National Weather Service hydrologist Ray Nickless said.
The same weather system bringing rain to areas of the valley is expected to dump several feet of snow in higher elevations along the Continental Divide, including Glacier National Park, stemming some of the runoff into area rivers.
"It's just one of those events where we're getting snow in the higher elevations, which is helping us with the river runoff a bit," Nickless said Friday.
About 24 inches of snow fell on Badger Pass near Browning in a 24-hour period Friday, and several inches fell on Marias Pass, which also received 3 inches of rain Thursday and Friday. Other portions of the divide were projected to receive as much as 50 inches of snow.
After cresting Sunday, water levels on the North Fork, Middle Fork and main stem of the Flathead River are expected to decline through next week.
The Flathead River at Columbia Falls is expected to crest at 13.85 feet Sunday and then drop to under 12 feet by Wednesday. Flood stage is 14 feet.
The North Fork at Polebridge is expected to crest at 11.21 feet Sunday night and then drop to 10 feet by Wednesday afternoon. Flood stage is 12 feet.
And the Middle Fork at West Glacier is expected to crest at 10.29 feet early Sunday and then drop to below 7.5 feet Wednesday night. Flood stage is 10 feet.
Smaller rivers in the area should also continue running high.
The Whitefish River in Kalispell, measured at 7 feet Friday, is expected to crest Monday afternoon at 7.33 feet. Flood stage is 8.5 feet.
The Stillwater River at Lawrence Park in Kalispell, measured at 7.08 feet Friday, is expected to crest Sunday night at 7.2 feet. Flood stage is 7.5 feet.
In preparation for possible flooding, Kalispell Parks and Recreation officials closed the public restrooms at Lawrence Park. The back portion of the park also has been closed.
And just in time for the Bigfork Whitewater Festival kayak races today and Sunday, the Swan River is expected to crest Sunday night at 6.05 feet. Flood stage is 6.5 feet.
Glacier National Park officials closed Many Glacier Road on Friday morning after a culvert near the park's boundary overflowed. The park is expected to receive 2 inches of rain in some lower elevations and as much as 5 inches of rain in higher elevations, public information officer Melissa Wilson said.
The Many Glacier and Two Medicine campgrounds are closed because of substantial snow cover, and the Rising Sun Campground has been closed for the weekend because of potential flooding.
Updates on park road conditions and hazards are available by calling (406) 888-7800, ext. 2.
On the east side of the park, the storm system was expected to dump between 8 and 12 inches of snow above elevations of 6,500 feet, National Weather Service meteorologist Jerome Saucier said.
Near Browning, Badger Creek on Friday rose 1.23 feet above the creek's 7-foot flood stage and caused minor flooding. Warm Spring Creek flooded portions of Maiden Canyon Road near Judith Mountain and Half Moon Creek flooded portions of Red Hill Road near Half Moon Canyon, Saucier said.
Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com