WARNING: Flooding is Now Quickly Becoming Montana’s Biggest Problem

A huge percentage of Montana counties are under some sort of flood warning through at least Friday night. Lots of snow followed by much warmer temperatures equals an insane amount of melted water - and that means flooding.

Some flooding is already affecting rural roadways, and that can become a dangerous situation quickly for drivers. Extreme caution and conservative decision making is needed in the coming days, especially in rural areas.

• FOR NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA:
• A FLOOD ADVISORY FOR SNOWMELT NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FRIDAY.
• WHAT...Flooding caused by snowmelt continues.
• WHERE...Portions of central and north central Montana, including the following counties, in central Montana, Cascade, Fergus and Judith Basin. In north central Montana, Blaine, Chouteau, Glacier, Hill, Liberty, Pondera, Teton and Toole.
• WHEN...Until 10:00 PM Friday.
• IMPACTS...Water is flowing over some rural roadways.
• Additionally, flooding of fields is likely, along with areas along streams and creeks, including Big Sandy Creek and Clear Creek.
• ADDITIONAL DETAILS... At 1:49 PM on Thursday, emergency management reported flooding in the advisory area.
• Overflowing poor drainage areas have already caused minor flooding in the advisory area.
• PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Reminder, turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads.
• It is very difficult to determine if a roadway has been washed out when the road is flooded, especially at night.

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• FOR NORTHEAST MONTANA:
• A FLOOD ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM FRIDAY.
• WHAT...Small stream flooding caused by rain and/or snowmelt and/or ice jam continues.
• WHERE...A portion of northeast Montana, including the following counties, Daniels, Dawson, Garfield, McCone, Petroleum, Phillips, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Valley and Wibaux.
• WHEN...Until 300 PM Friday.
• IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas. Rises in small streams and normally dry coulees.
• ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 12:47 PM Thursday, Stream gauges are still showing high stream levels. Expect small stream flooding to continue.
• Flooding impacts will continue, but no additional rainfall is expected.
• Some locations that will experience flooding include... Beaver Creek in Phillips and Valley counties, Poplar River in Daniels and Roosevelt counties, Musselshell River in Garfield and Petroleum counties, Flatwillow Creek in Petroleum county, Beaver Creek in Wibaux county, Frenchmen Creek and all of the streams that flow south from Saskatchewan.