Warm temperatures and an “atmospheric river” of rainfall have led to an emergency in Lincoln County, Montana. Local waterways are overflowing due to these unseasonal weather patterns, causing concern across the region. The National Weather Service began issuing flood watches as snowpack sites reported near-record precipitation levels over 24 hours.
Dan Borsum, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service, described the “rain-on-snow” pattern as unusual for December, more typical of April. Additional precipitation is expected, potentially increasing river levels into Friday, according to Zach Sherbo of the Lincoln County Health Department. The hardest-hit areas, Libby and Troy, have declared a state of emergency, advised residents against non-essential travel, and issued a boil-water order for those on Libby’s municipal water supply.
Several bridges have been compromised, and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department urges residents to check an online map for updates on closures. “It’s going to take a long time to recoup from this,” Sherbo mentioned, highlighting the ongoing structural challenges. Justun Juelfs from the Montana Department of Transportation reported closures and monitoring on state-managed roads such as Farm to Market Road, with MDT providing a road conditions report for further information.
The Army Corps of Engineers and Red Cross are aiding in relief efforts, offering sandbags and a shelter in Libby. The Montana Disaster and Emergency Services agency is also involved, with personnel on the ground to support local efforts. Governor Greg Gianforte acknowledged the disaster in other counties with emergency declarations, while expecting up to four inches of additional rain.
Precipitation has dramatically increased, as reported by the National Weather Service with the Bear Mountain site in Idaho receiving significant rainfall, marking a record for the location. Borsum indicated that the warm weather and powerful atmospheric river led to the snowpack melting and subsequent flooding. Similar conditions last June required major infrastructure repairs.
The Yaak River near Troy exceeded its flood stage, running at over 7,500 cubic feet per second compared to the typical 200 cfs. The Fisher River near Libby approached flood levels, flowing at nearly 4,000 cfs, much higher than the usual rate for this period.
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