Rivers rise as rain pours down
<p>Water covers part of a field Monday north of Kalispell. Heavy rains prompted a small-stream flood advisory Monday from the National Weather Service. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Going-To-The-Sun Road in Glacier National Park was closed on Monday at the foot of Lake McDonald because of water on the roadway. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Rivers rose swiftly and water covered some roadways as heavy rain — 4 to 5 inches in some places — inundated Northwest Montana over the weekend.
The level of the main Flathead River at Columbia Falls rose more than 6 feet in a day and a half and other rivers ranging from the Yaak to the Middle Fork also rose swiftly as rain poured down across the area.
There was no major flooding reported, although some roadways were inundated.
In Glacier Park, Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed at the foot of Lake McDonald because of water on the road.
“There’s a culvert about a mile and a half up the road from Apgar that’s flooding across the road,” Glacier spokeswoman Denise Germann said Monday morning. “It happens every spring when there’s a lot of water.”
Flattop Mountain in Glacier Park received 4.5 inches of rain over 48 hours as of 8 a.m. Monday, while Poorman Creek in Lincoln County got 5.7 inches.
The deluge prompted the National Weather Service to issue a flood advisory through Monday night for Flathead and Lincoln counties.
“Small streams, creeks, and low-lying areas with poor drainage could see water levels rise and spill out of their banks, causing minor flooding,” the Weather Service warned
Traffic hazards were reported on U.S. 2 along the southern edge of Glacier National Park on Monday.
Water was crossing the highway at two places: 8 miles east of West Glacier and 10 miles west of Marias Pass, according to the Montana Department of Transportation.
There also a debris flow and water ponding 5 miles west of Essex. Along the Middle Fork, the rain was mixed with snow on Monday.
The Canyon and Glacier National Park areas received the brunt of the rain.
Essex, for example, received 3.5 inches in 48 hours, according to the National Weather Service
Other Flathead County rainfall amounts included 2.83 inches at Martin City, 2.22 inches at Hungry Horse, 1.2 inches at Polebridge, .84 inches at Columbia Falls and .71 inches at Glacier Park International Airport.
In Lincoln County, rain amounts included 3.1 inches at Stahl Peak and Grave Creek, 2.11 inches in the Yaak and 1.76 inches at Libby.
A rockslide at 12:28 a.m. Monday was reported near the Koocanusa Bridge 12 miles southwest of Eureka on Montana 37.
Area river levels surged along with the heavy rain.
The main Flathead River at Columbia Falls went from a level of 4.42 feet at midnight Saturday to 10.79 feet at midafternoon Monday. During that time, the river flow increased from 5,960 cubic feet per second to 30,600 cubic feet per second.
Flood state on the Flathead River is 13 feet.
The Yaak River near Troy rose to 8 feet on Monday, which is considered minor flood stage, before starting to decline gradually.
The Middle Fork of the Flathead River at West Glacier rose from 2.76 feet early Sunday to 8 feet Monday afternoon. Flood stage on the Middle Fork is 10 feet.
Although the heaviest rains have passed, wet weather is expected to continue in Northwest Montana.
The Weather Service predicts showers through Wednesday before drier weather moves in Thursday.
Online:
www.wrh.noaa.gov/mso/hydrology/composites.php