Flood in Blaine County, Montana

Significant snowmelt resulted in flooding along Clear Creek. The creek rose approximately four feet over a 24 hour period from April 8th to April 9th, before dramatically subsiding. A nearby reservoir about 3 acres in size filled and flooded within five hours. The river gauge for Clear Creek near Chinook crested at 8.12 feet, with 8.00 feet being the designated beginning of Major Flood Stage. Multiple nearby roads were flooded as a result.

Unseasonably warm temperatures occurred in the first two weeks of April, with highs near 80 degrees occurring at times. These warm temps, along with occasional rain, resulted in melting of a deep snowpack on top of frozen ground which led to significant runoff into area waterways. Moderate to major flooding occurred along portions of the Milk River and its tributaries. Impactful snowmelt flooding also occurred across Southcentral Montana, in particular across the Gallatin Valley.