The Clark Fork river reached its flood stage on Wednesday night at 7.5 feet, according to meteorologist Brian Conlin with the National Weather Service, who spoke to KGVO news at about 3:30 Thursday morning.
Joe Blattner is the Chief of Missoula County Search and Rescue, the group of men and women volunteers who stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice to any kind of rescue, in all weather and all seasons.
The National Weather Service is predicting a system with heavy rains to move into western Montana starting Sunday and lasting most of the following week.
Rain has been falling steadily all night around western Montana, according to meteorologist Leeanne Allegretto with the National Weather Service Office in Missoula. She provided the overnight numbers as of 4:00 a.m.
The National Weather Service is predicting that the Clark Fork River will experience minor flooding as the warm weather melts the snow pack in western Montana mountains.
Ravalli County Sheriff Holton confirmed on Thursday afternoon that a 17 year-old male from Sanders County drowned in the Clark Fork River after fleeing from law enforcement.
With the heavy rain that Missoula has received over the past 24 hours, there has been some concern that rivers might have more water overflowing their banks, but the National Weather Service says not necessarily