HELENA, Mont. (AP) - The Latest on Montana flooding (all times local):
6:15 p.m.
Gov. Steve Bullock has declared a state of emergency ahead of possible major flooding in several Montana communities.
Bullock’s Wednesday order applies to Cascade County, Lewis and Clark County and the City of Great Falls.
It comes after the National Weather Service issued a flood warning along portions of the Missouri River.
Major flooding is expected at Ulm, 10 miles southwest of Great Falls. Flooding is expected along Woodland Estates Road, which is between bends in the river southwest of Great Falls, as well as the marina along Lower River Road in Great Falls.
Flooding could occur at homes near the Great Falls Country Club, as well.
Bullock said other communities may be added to the declaration as the situation develops.
12:40 p.m.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning along the Missouri River between Cascade and Great Falls.
Forecasters say the river could match its historical crest of 17 feet near Ulm Wednesday night, depending on how much water pours into the Missouri from other creeks and rivers.
Hydrologist Arin Peters tells the Great Falls Tribune the sudden rise in the Missouri is due to inflows from the Dearborn River near Craig, where it was flooding on Tuesday. Water also comes into the Missouri from Smith River near Ulm, which does not have a gauge measuring its flow.
Major flooding is expected at Ulm, 10 miles southwest of Great Falls. Flooding is expected along Woodland Estates Road, which is between bends in the river southwest of Great Falls, as well as the marina along Lower River Road in Great Falls. Flooding could occur at homes near the Great Falls Country Club, as well.
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12:25 p.m.
Moderate flooding continues along Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front and rain forecast this week could cause some additional problems.
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Capt. Brent Colbert says floodwaters were subsiding some in the town of Augusta on Wednesday, but the roads to town remained closed.
A stretch of Montana Highway 200 from its junction with Secondary 279 to Simms was closed due to failing culverts. Secondary Highway 21 between Augusta and Sun River was closed after a bridge washed out and U.S. Highway 287 was closed north and south of Augusta due to water over the road.
The National Weather Service says thunderstorms and rain forecast through the weekend could exacerbate conditions, including flooding along the Sun River east of Augusta. The Missouri River between Cascade and Great Falls was forecast to reach minor flood stage later Wednesday.
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