Freezing rain, flood warnings issued for Northwest Montana

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory and flood watch for Northwest Montana from Saturday afternoon through Monday afternoon.

The winter weather advisory, in effect from 11 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday, is due to a forecast of freezing rain that could leave a glaze to up to one-tenth of an inch ice on ground surfaces.

The affected areas include Highway 2 Kalispell to Libby, Flathead Lake, Highway 56 Bull Lake Road, Polebridge, Marias Pass, Highway 37 Eureka to Libby, Highway 93 Eureka to Whitefish, Highway 83 Bigfork to Swan Lake, Essex, Flathead Valley, Mission Valley, Polson and Bad Rock Canyon.

The flood watch is in effect from Saturday afternoon through Monday afternoon in portions of western Montana, including the following counties,  Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Sanders, Granite, Mineral, Missoula and Ravalli counties.

Libby City Manager Sam Smith said water is being released from the Flower Creek Dam with the plan that warmer water will melt ice and possibly prevent ice jams.

According to the NWS, an atmospheric river will bring a significant warm up along with widespread rain Saturday into next Monday. 

High temperatures will reach into the 40s, with overnight temperatures staying above freezing, increasing area snowmelt and runoff and introducing the risk for ice jam releases.

Excessive runoff may result in flooding of creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks from ice jam releases.

Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas, including  basements and crawlspaces.

Officials say people should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flood Warnings be issued.

They also advise people to clear gutters and downspouts to allow proper drainage and reduce the risk of ice dams and leaks.

Snow removal from roofs where it’s safe to do so, is recommended, as well as moving snow away from home foundations and clear window wells, to ensure proper drainage.

Motorists are asked to avoid driving through flooded areas and be cautious of changing conditions.

According to the Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency, forecasters in Missoula indicated a probability of an inch of rain in the valleys, 1.5 inches in the north end of the county and 2-plus inches in the Cabinet Mountains.