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Flood warnings issued as river rises

by Daily Inter Lake
| June 2, 2020 1:00 AM

Recent hot weather and heavy rainfall has pushed local rivers to the brink of flooding.

A flood watch was issued Sunday for the Flathead River at Columbia Falls, which means there is potential for flooding based on current forecasts.

Flood stage on the Flathead at Columbia Falls is 14 feet. The river was at 13.74 feet on Monday afternoon, and was predicted to hit 14.02 feet on Tuesday at about 3 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service in Missoula, at 14 feet, flooding of farmers crops adjacent to the Flathead River is likely, and sections of Steel Bridge Road could become inundated with water and impassable.

Weather Service data suggests the river will drop to 12 feet by Wednesday afternoon, before rising to minor flood stage again this weekend.

A flood warning was issued Monday for the North Fork Flathead River at Canadian Border. Flood stage is 10.5 feet. The river level was at 11.27 feet Monday morning.

Local reports from Polebridge indicated water levels were impacting basements of homes near the river.

According to the Weather Service, at 10.5 feet, flooding affects low-lying areas adjacent to the river. County roads from the Canadian border to Polebridge can become inundated with water.

The North Fork was expected to fall below flood stage by Wednesday.