Flood Advisory Issued for Second Time This Week

The National Weather Service has issued the second flood advisory this week for the Clark Fork River as it flows through Missoula.

Meteorologist Alex Lukinbeal said the river is expected to rise again to over 7.5 feet and result in minor flooding in the Orchard Homes neighborhood.

“We do have a flood advisory in effect for the Clark Fork River,” said Lukinbeal. “That is mainly for the Orchard Homes area, specifically for some minor street flooding and some standing water issues that we’re going to be seeing along the Kehrwald Drive and the north end of Tower Street.”

Lukinbeal explained how the warmer nights this week are leading to the minor flooding issues again this week.

“We have this ridge of high pressure that’s building at the moment,” he said. “We’ve had some warmer nights recently, with lows only in the mid-40’s, so we’re starting to see some melting of the mid-elevation snow pack, and that’s allowed for the Clark Fork to hover around that action to minor flood stage.”

Flood stage for the Clark Fork River has been lowered since last year’s flooding from 10 feet to just 7.5 feet.

The National Weather Service issued this cautionary warning:

‘Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.’