Great Falls, Montana – Relentless rain is pushing central and north-central Montana closer to flooding as the region heads into the weekend, with saturated ground leaving little room for more water.
According to the National Weather Service in Great Falls, scattered to widespread showers will impact the area through Saturday, bringing a marginal risk of excessive rainfall. Counties including Cascade, Chouteau, Fergus, Lewis and Clark, Teton, Hill, Liberty, Toole, Pondera, Glacier, Phillips, Petroleum, and Blaine are all under heightened concern. Showers may turn heavy enough at times to overwhelm poor drainage systems, causing flash flooding in low-lying neighborhoods and along urban streets.
Major highways and small towns—from Great Falls to Havre and Lewistown—could see brief road closures or hazardous driving conditions, especially where creeks and small rivers swell after downpours. Residents in vulnerable spots should keep storm drains clear, avoid walking or driving through flooded roads, and have emergency supplies on hand.
According to local emergency management, while significant rises are not expected on large rivers, creeks and smaller waterways could surge quickly during intense rainfall. Residents should report flooding to law enforcement and stay tuned for further weather alerts.
Rain is expected to persist off and on through Saturday night. Additional watches or warnings may be issued if rainfall rates climb higher than expected.
