Blaine County flood warning in effect

National Weather Service has put a flood watch out for Clear Creek in Blaine County near Chinook, saying that snow melt from the Bear Paw Mountains has put the creek level above the flood stage.

Blaine County Commissioner Frank DePriest said this morning that the commission has not yet heard from any residents who have had problems on Clear Creek, and the commissioners had hoped the level would be dropping.

“We knew it was high yesterday and we expected it to be receding,” he said.

Weather Service issued its warning at 3:08 this morning, reporting that Clear Creek was at 6.2 feet with the flood stage 5.5 feet.

The warning was set to be in effect until Saturday afternoon or until canceled.

People are warned to turn around and not attempt to drive through water flowing over a road whenever flooding occurs.

DePriest said some flooding was occurring in northern Blaine County, in East Fork Coulee. The drainage through the coulee was creating flooding over one road, and another generally unused road farther north was closed due to ice on the road left when water receded.

Culverts are flowing at capacity at that location but the rip-rap on the sides of the road is holding, DePriest said.

Weather Service also has a flood watch in effect for Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning through a multi-county region and communities including Rocky Boy and Havre and stretching south to Great Falls and Lewistown.