N. Fork residents dealing with flooding; road closed near Blankenship

by Chris Peterson Hungry Horse News
| May 23, 2016 8:26 AM

Heavy rains over the weekend have caused some localized flooding, forcing the closure of the Going-to-the-Sun Road on the west side of Glacier National Park.

A problem culvert about two miles up the road was inundated with flood water Monday, forcing the closure of the road at Apgar.

North Fork residents were also dealing with flooding Monday morning after the outlet stream from Spoon Lake flooded over Lake Drive and the outlet stream of Bailey Lake jumped its banks and flooded the North Fork Road at the intersection of the Blankenship Road.

The North Fork Road in that area was closed as a result. Motorists can detour by using the Camas Road in Glacier National Park.

The Lake Drive flooding was problematic, as at least two feet of water were going over the dirt road and the east side of the road was eroding as it cascaded down a 30-foot plus embankment.

Residents living above the washout appeared to be trapped until the water goes down. Based on the debris field, the water appeared to have crested over night and was falling Monday morning.

Flooding has also been reported on Rabe Road and Half Moon Road.

The west side of the Hungry Horse Reservoir was also closed Monday morning after trees, mud and other debris clogged a culvert a few miles up the road.

Forest engineer Gary Danczyk said crews were working with contractors to remove the debris, which was carried downhill from areas burned by wildfires in 2003.

“It’s just a few miles south of the dam,” Danczyk said. “All the recreational facilities on the west side are effectively cut off.”

A National Weather Service rain gauge in Columbia Falls recorded more than 6.17 inches of rain in the past 24 hours and it was continuing to rain Monday.

Other regions saw far less, though still significant amounts. Hungry Horse had more than 3 inches of rain, but the Glacier Park International Airport recorded just 1.5 inches over the past two days. West Glacier saw 4.04 inches of rain, while Polebridge saw 1.2 inches. Flattop Mountain in Glacier National Park saw 16 inches of snow.

Dave Noble, a meteorologist with the weather agency in Missoula, said another inch of rain was expected Monday throughout the region.

“In the valleys we’re expecting another three-quarters of an inch through tomorrow morning. In the mountains we’re expecting anywhere from an inch to an inch and a half,” Noble said Monday morning. “That rainfall really could result in more issues with stream flooding.”

The Weather Service warned that areas that could experience flooding include Columbia Falls, West Glacier, Lake McDonald, Apgar, Nyack, Hungry Horse, Martin City and Coram.

This story was updated at 4:07 p.m. Monday.