Brief respite coming

Flood watches in effect; more rain expected midweek

Flathead Valley residents may see relief Monday from the recent rainy weather, but the break is only a reprieve before the next wet-weather system rolls in midweek.

In the meantime, area creeks and rivers will continue to rise. Many are expected to crest today.

The Middle Fork at West Glacier and Essex should crest this afternoon, National Weather Service Meteorologist Michelle Mead said. The weather service issued a flood watch for those areas, effective through this afternoon.

On Saturday afternoon, the Middle Fork at West Glacier was at 8.66 feet. Flood stage is 10 feet.

The Middle Fork was at 8.2 feet in Essex on Friday night. Flood stage there is 10.5 feet.

"They're right at flood stage," Mead said. "That's why we kept them at a watch."

At West Glacier, the Middle Fork is expected to crest this evening at 10.22 feet, just above flood stage. It's expected to crest early this morning in Essex at 10.63 feet.

The flood watch primarily affects Glacier National Park, Mead said, where snowmelt and rainfall could cause full creeks and streams to flood their banks.

"The main stem of the Flathead is what we're worried about," Mead said. "But small creeks can turn into pretty big creeks with all this rain."

The National Weather Service also issued a flood watch for the Flathead River at Columbia Falls, though it is "the least threatened right now, as far as potentially reaching flood stage," Mead said.

The river was at 13.1 feet Saturday afternoon. Flood stage is 14 feet. It's expected to crest early Monday at 13.5 feet.

All but the highest elevations in Northwest Montana can expect rain for the rest of the weekend, Mead said. The snow level was between 7,500 feet and 8,000 feet Saturday. Below that, she said, the forecast called for up to an inch and a half of rain.

"We're going to see unsettled conditions for the rest of the weekend," Mead said. "Then Sunday night and Monday we might get a bit of a break. … You guys might dry out for a while, until the next system comes in Wednesday or Wednesday night."

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.