Creeks receding in Hill, Blaine counties, more flooding expected in Chouteau

Flooding increased in Blaine County Wednesday, Hill County was near flooding on one road and flooding is expected to increase in Chouteau County through Friday, but as temperatures plunge, experts say, the chance of more flooding is likely to recede.

Blaine County Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator Haley Velk said this morning that some more roads had flooded in that county Wednesday, but creeks were receding by 5 p.m.

She said she had not yet received a report from the county Road and Bridge Department to confirm what roads still were flooded.

Machinist Road southwest of Chinook had flooded Tuesday due to an ice jam in Clear Creek, but crews cleared the ice and that road had cleared, she said.

Bowes Road southeast of Chinook also had flooded, and Velk said she was not sure of its status this morning.

New Hope Road at Snake Creek had flooded, as had River Road, but Velk said she believed those had cleared by today.

She said people need to remember the mantra “Turn around, don’t drown,” and avoid driving over any flooded road. The danger and amount of water flowing over a road can appear deceptive, and no one should drive across a flooded road.

The National Weather Service reports that most flooding deaths occur in vehicles.

Velk said the Blaine County Commission also is pushing to remind people that if they have machinery or livestock in low-lying areas susceptible to flooding, they should move them to higher ground.

The Weather Service flood advisory is in effect for Blaine County through this evening, but Velk said she will be talking to representatives of the agency later today and that could be removed.

Hill County DES Coordinator Dave Sheppard said County Road 100 north of Hingham came close to flooding Wednesday, but as of this morning, his information was that the waters receded before it actually flooded.

Most creeks in the county are receding, he said.

But the flood advisory for Chouteau County is in effect through 4 p.m. Friday, with Weather Service reporting flooding is likely to increase through that time, especially in the northern part of the county where more snow remains.

The chance of flooding is likely to drop off at least temporarily as wintry weather returns to the region.

Following a forecast high of 39 degrees for Havre Friday, the lows are predicted to hit 3 degrees Friday and 4 degrees Saturday, with snow, snow showers or a wintry mix of precipitation predicted over the next several days.

Temperatures are expected to creep back into the low 30s by the middle of next week and into the 40s by April 10, but the Weather Channel 10-day forecast for Havre does not predict lows above freezing in that period.