Thunderstorm and Flash Flood Threat on Monday for Western Montana

The National Weather Service has issued a warning that there is a thunderstorm and flash flood threat for Monday, July 14 in western Montana.

Meteorologist Ryan Leach said the weather system is due to arrive by Monday afternoon.

"We've got a really, really wet air mass that's coming into eastern Idaho and western Montana," Leach said. "We're expecting it to cause some showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the afternoon. These storms will be moving pretty slow and be very wet. As a result, we're concerned about flash flooding, especially around any areas with burn scars, which can be very dangerous and cause large debris flows very suddenly."

Leach especially referenced the area damaged by the Lolo Creek fire complex in the summer of 2013.

"in addition to Lolo Creek, there are a lot of drainages with steep walls without a lot of vegetation," he said. "Some are down in Idaho along the Salmon River, and then there are others throughout western Montana and portions of central Idaho."

Leach said this is what forecasters call a "hit or miss" storm, in that some areas may receive a great deal of rain, while others may not. The National Weather Service issued the news release on Sunday to alert the public to the possibility of heavy rains, wind, small hail and potential flash flooding.