Happy Friday, everyone! I’ll get right to it: the National Weather Service in Missoula has issued a Flood Watch for portions of northwest Montana, including Flathead and Lake counties. The watch went into effect at 2 p.m. and will remain in place through late tonight. Currently it is set to expire at 2 a.m.
Per the weather service, flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible, and there is a 15 to 20 percent probability for excessive rainfall of 1 to 2 inch per hour rates. Excessive runoff could lead to rock and mudslides, and flooding of other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Storm drains and ditches could also become clogged with debris.
In addition to Flathead and Lake counties, the weather service notes that the Flood Watch is also in effect for specific areas including Kalispell, Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, flood-prone areas and burn scars.
A Flood Watch means that people in affected areas should be prepared.A portion of the NWS website detailing its flood information products describes a watch as being issued “when conditions are favorable for a specific hazardous weather event to occur.” It further states that “A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.”For more information on Flood Watches and other types of flood-related NWS alerts, click here.
The forecast for the Flathead this afternoon calls for showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Afternoon rain totals in Kalispell could reach between a quarter and half an inch of rain, with higher amounts possible in areas that see thunderstorms.
More showers are likely tonight and the Flathead could see a thunderstorm before midnight, with additional showers and thunderstorms possible between midnight and 3 a.m. Overnight rainfall totals could wind up between a quarter and a half an inch.
More showers and thunderstorms are expected in the Flathead Saturday throughout the day and into the evening. The rainy, stormy weather is expected to abate on Sunday, with mostly sunny conditions and a high of 84 in Kalispell .
Rain and thunderstorms could return to the area Monday and continue into Tuesday.
Here’s hoping we can avoid some of the more destructive possibilities accompanying this latest round of regional moisture. I’m Mike Kordenbrock bringing you the Daily Roundup…
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