National Weather Service issues flood watch for low-lying areas

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch from Saturday night into Monday. The mainstem rivers aren’t expected to flood unless water builds up behind ice jams, but smaller streams and low-lying areas could see some flooding, the weather service is warning.

High temperatures will be in the mid-40s with snow levels rising to 5,000 feet. The Flathead could see a quarter to a half inch of rain this weekend into Monday. 

After a wintry February up until now, the weather is expected to stay more spring-like into next week. 

The moisture is still needed. The Flathead River Basin snowpack is below normal at about 91% of the median. The snowpack started out robust after a snowy November, but dried out in January. 

February up until a few days ago was cold, but the Flathead didn’t have as much snow as other parts of the state. 

Above 5,000 feet the mountains should see heavy, wet snow, with upwards of an inch of snow water equivalent this weekend.