Clark Fork River

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.

Both the Clark Fork and Bitterroot Rivers are in flood stage and will be until further notice.

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.

As the rain started falling in Missoula on Tuesday, the County Commissioners issued an emergency proclamation, according to the Director of the Office of Emergency Management, Adriane Beck.

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

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the Bitterroot River as it flows through Missoula.

The Clark Fork River, as expected, overflowed its banks this week and neighborhoods located near the river are now experiencing flooding.

The National Weather Service has been keeping a close eye on the Clark Fork River as the weather has been warming, and they are now predicting that the Clark Fork River will exceed the 7.5 foot flood stage this week, according to meteorologist Jennifer Kitzmiller.