Montana River Levels Dropping But Some Still Over Flood Stage, And Additional Melt Expected

Most of Montana’s swollen rivers seemed to be receding late Thursday, and no significant rain was adding to their threat, but a state emergency official had words of caution.

“It’s not over,” said Jim Anderson, operations officer at the state Disaster and Emergency Services office in Helena.

Much of the moisture of the past few days has been snow that remained in the mountains because of cool weather, and warming is forecast for next week, he noted.

Several rivers remained over flood stage, and the weather bureau extended flood warnings for several counties through this afternoon, and for others through Sunday.

In Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Harlem, however, small improvements made a big difference to residents driven from their homes Tuesday and Wednesday.

“We’re in fine shape,” sighed a weary Kim Potter, DES coordinator for Flathead County, where more than 100 homes were flooded. The North Fork of the Flathead was receding after cresting Thursday.

“Now all we have to worry about is the Middle Fork, when the snow melts,” he said.

Potter estimated 30 families were flooded in the Polebridge area, 60-odd homes in the Evergreen area near Kalispell, a few in the Moose City area at the Canadian border, and the U.S. Customs office there.

Glacier National Park, also staggered by the snowstorm and heavy rain, said all backcountry hikers had been accounted for, but four campers remained stranded at Bowman Lake Campground. At least 10 of the park’s 200 bridges were washed out.

Some roads and campgrounds remained closed, and backcountry travel was “strongly discouraged,” but Camas Creek Road and lower stretches of Going-to-the-Sun Road were open.

Flood warnings were extended through this afternoon for Glacier, Toole, Pondera and southern Phillips counties in northern Montana; and through noon Sunday for Beaverhead, Broadwater, Madison, Gallatin, Jefferson and Treasure counties in the south.

The Marias River near Shelby, the Milk River in Glacier County and the St. Mary River near Babb were over their banks but beginning to fall.

In southern Montana, the Big Hole, Ruby, Jefferson and headwaters of the Missouri remained out of their banks. The Gallatin and Madison rivers were expected to crest tonight and begin to fall Saturday.

The flood crest on the Yellowstone River passed Billings and is moving downstream. Forecasters said a few homes in Treasure County near Hysham might need to be evacuated.