Officials issue flood watch alert for Yaak River
The Yaak River. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Snowmelt due to rising temperatures and forecasted rain led the National Weather Service to issue a flood watch for the Yaak River in Lincoln County.
As of 11:15 a.m. Fridayday, the National Weather Service’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service indicated the Yaak River was at 7.23 feet. Flood stage is 8 feet.
The Service is predicting the river will crest at about 8.28 feet at about 11 a.m. Sunday. They also estimate the river will remain at flood stage Monday morning before receding later in the day.
The watch is in effect until further notice and officials say impacts would occur at low lying areas adjacent to the river.
Officials say residents and those with interests near the river should monitor rising water levels and be prepared for possible flood warnings. For those in the watch area, they should remain alert to possible flooding. More information is available at www.weather.gov.
The Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency said people should look out for erosion and rockslides and water or debris on roadways. Those seeing any safety issues should call 911 and shouldn’t drive through standing or flowing water.
The National Weather Service also reported that if stream levels reach 8.5 feet, flooding could affect low lying areas adjacent to the river including homes and access roads as well as the Sylvanite Ranger Station Road and Upper Ford Road.
Steady rises on area streams and rivers will continue into the
weekend as temperatures are expected to reach the mid 70s on Friday. There is an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday with one-quarter to one-half inch of rain possible.
Forecasters say temperatures will cool on Saturday with a high of 60 during the day and in the low 40s at night. There is still an 80% chance of rain Saturday with one-tenth to one-quarter of an inch possible.
Sunday, there is a 40% chance of rain in the region.
Flood watches were also issued for other areas in western Montana and southern Idaho, including the Bitterroot River at Bell Crossing near Victor in Ravalli County, the Bitterroot River near Missoula, the South Fork Clearwater River at Stites affecting Idaho County and the Clearwater River at Orofino affecting Clearwater County.