Danger Ahead: Missoula Faces Flooding Risk Due to Snowmelt

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - With the rapidly warming temperatures and the large piles of deep snow in Missoula, the County Office of Emergency Management has issued a flood watch for the entire Missoula area.

I spoke with Adriane Beck, Director of Missoula County’s Office of Emergency Management about the hazards that are facing Missoula County this weekend.

Missoula County Issues Possible Flood Watch for This Weekend

“We need to be mindful of what Mother Nature is going to bring us, right?” asked Beck. “Remember we went from negative 17-degree temperatures to the fact that we’re going to be warming up into the 40s, potentially even into the 50s, and so all that snow that we've accumulated over the last couple weeks is going to start to melt with those warm temperatures. But what is particularly of concern is that we were also forecasted to have some significant precipitation over the weekend on top of those warm temperatures, and coupled with that melting snow.”

Beck said the storm drains around Missoula are already clogged with snow, which will exacerbate the problem with rapid snow melt.

Beck Said to Drive with Extreme Caution Through Standing Water

“As people know, just any kind of rain event is going to cause our storm drain infrastructures to be tested, but right now, those storm drains, they're buried in snow and potentially even frozen, and so the draining could be a little bit slower,” she said.

Beck said drivers and even pedestrians will have to be extra careful around standing water.

“If there’s standing water on roadways, just be cautious about that,” she said. “If they are seeing ponding on city streets, to go to the storm management map and look at where the nearest storm drains are and maybe go try to clear those out, or there's a report form on the storm management map to report an issue.”

Beck said to Clear Snow Away from your Basement Walls and Foundation

Beck advised home and property owners to get busy clearing snow away from basements and walls to keep from flooding due to melting snow.

“For people on their private properties, now is the time to really look at your property, where snow is accumulated, where low spots may exist around your house, and try to move that snow away ahead of this precipitation event, so that as that snow starts to melt, and as that water starts to pond, that it isn't ponding up against your foundation and more importantly, against basement entrances.”

Click here to get access to the stormwater management map.