The National Weather Service has posted a Flood Watch for a portion of Northwest Montana, including the Flathead & Mission Valleys and the West Glacier areas. The watch is in effect from 6AM Saturday to Midnight Monday, June 1st. An additional Watch is posted for the Flathead River at Columbia Falls, where the river is forecast to crest at just above flood stage.
Sheriff Brian Heino is urging the use of extreme caution around local waterways. High water levels coupled with cold water conditions, strong currents, submerged obstacles and unstable banks could put one in a life-threatening position without warning.
Over the past few days, emergency resources have responded to several water-related incidents. Some of these, he notes, have occurred simultaneously, causing a real drain on available resources.
