flooding

The National Weather Service has been keeping a close eye on the Clark Fork River as the weather has been warming, and they are now predicting that the Clark Fork River will exceed the 7.5 foot flood stage this week, according to meteorologist Jennifer Kitzmiller.

Last spring’s flooding changed the landscape of the Clark Fork River to the point where the flood stage level has been reduced by nearly three feet.

Even though the National Weather Service is not predicting a repeat of last spring’s devastating flooding of the Clark Fork River, Chief Hydrologist Ray Nickless is still concerned about localized flooding in certain areas.

After last spring and summer’s devastating floods, Missoula County Disaster and Emergency Services personnel are well prepared for whatever may happen this spring.

With all the snow that western Montana has received over the past month, Montana’s State Insurance Commissioner Matt Rosendale encourages residents to look into flood insurance as the weather warms.

Though the worst of the Missoula County flooding this year is likely over, National Weather Service Hydrologist Ray Nickless says he believes the swollen rivers this year may have created conditions where flooding is perennial in Missoula.

By this time last year, Missoula-area rivers were filled with float tubes and anglers.

Continuous rain in the Clark Fork basin could cause the river to rise by as much as a foot and a half to about the nine foot level by Wednesday evening.

Many residents evacuated due to flooding of the Clark Fork River are making repairs and preparing to move beck in, several are still inaccessible due to high water.

In the summertime, pools of standing water are a natural breeding ground for mosquitoes, and with the 2018 Missoula flood, returning evacuees will have plenty of standing water to deal with.

Encouraging news for western Montana regarding the flooding of the Clark Fork River. Water levels are receding, and there may be an update for evacuees soon

Director of the Missoula County Office of Emergency management, Adriane Beck, sounded a hopeful note after the long Memorial Day weekend.