The National Weather Service is warning of potential flash floods in Flathead County, predicting strong thunderstorms and heavy rain on Monday and Tuesday.
The storm could produce over half an inch of rain in less than an hour beginning Monday afternoon, NWS officials said in an advisory early Monday. Rainfall totals for the next two days could reach 1 to 2 inches.
The heavy downpour could lead to hazards on Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. NWS officials warned of possible rock and mudslides.
“Steep terrain elsewhere in the park will also be at risk of seeing excessive runoff,” the agency stated.
Small hail will also accompany the storm Monday evening. Light rain could remain steady through Tuesday afternoon.
The sudden onset of rain could lead to flash floods, which are a very dangerous situation, the NWS said.
The pending storm marks a stark turn of events. April and May were the second driest stretch of spring in Kalispell history. Just last week NorthWestern Energy announced that Flathead Lake was two feet below its normal pool level and alerted federal regulators that a potential drought management plan could be enacted after June 15.