Flood advisory upgraded for Hill, Blaine counties

Flood advisory upgraded for Hill, Blaine counties

Zach White

The National Weather Service office in Great Falls upgraded the flood advisory it issued earlier this week to a flood warning for Hill and Blaine counties "until further notice. "

"Flood warnings remain in effect for portions of Hill and Blaine counties through Saturday afternoon, " the report said. "Other than the localized flooding conditions... the probability of widespread hazardous weather is low today."

The warning means that flooding is imminent or has already been reported.

Hill County Disaster and Emergency Services coordinator Joe Parenteau said that it was changed since some county roads have flooded, including one north of Rudyard and south of Havre, near Beaver Creek Road and Laredo Road in Rocky Boy Indian Reservation.

"We're well protected by the dike on the south side of town and the south side dike, " Parenteau said. "Though something could happen. It has in the past, which is why those structures are there in the first place. "

He said the melting has been "ideal" so far, melting some in the day, the partially refreezing at night, allowing waterways to lower before the next day's melt, but it could change.

"If we get a chinook that warms things up all day, it could change things up quite a bit, " Parenteau said.

Blaine County Commissioner Frank DePriest said this morning that he had heard some localized flooding, but, for the most part, there are not many problems.

"That might change. We're sitting right about 30 degrees. Further east it's been a little cooler, " DePriest said. "Hopefully it will keep thawing and freezing and thawing and freezing. "

The NWS warning was amended at 4:45 a. m. today to give a heads-up about weather systems coming in over the weekend and early next week, mostly to the west, that could have an impact on the situation.

Snow is expected in the Rockies, with the most accumulation taking place Monday night.

The National Weather Service office in Great Falls upgraded the flood advisory it issued earlier this week to a flood warning for Hill and Blaine counties "until further notice. "

"Flood warnings remain in effect for portions of Hill and Blaine counties through Saturday afternoon, " the report said. "Other than the localized flooding conditions... the probability of widespread hazardous weather is low today."

The warning means that flooding is imminent or has already been reported.

Hill County Disaster and Emergency Services coordinator Joe Parenteau said that it was changed since some county roads have flooded, including one north of Rudyard and south of Havre, near Beaver Creek Road and Laredo Road in Rocky Boy Indian Reservation.

"We're well protected by the dike on the south side of town and the south side dike, " Parenteau said. "Though something could happen. It has in the past, which is why those structures are there in the first place. "

He said the melting has been "ideal" so far, melting some in the day, the partially refreezing at night, allowing waterways to lower before the next day's melt, but it could change.

"If we get a chinook that warms things up all day, it could change things up quite a bit, " Parenteau said.

Blaine County Commissioner Frank DePriest said this morning that he had heard some localized flooding, but, for the most part, there are not many problems.

"That might change. We're sitting right about 30 degrees. Further east it's been a little cooler, " DePriest said. "Hopefully it will keep thawing and freezing and thawing and freezing. "

The NWS warning was amended at 4:45 a. m. today to give a heads-up about weather systems coming in over the weekend and early next week, mostly to the west, that could have an impact on the situation.

Snow is expected in the Rockies, with the most accumulation taking place Monday night.