S. Highway 2 over Fisher River weakened and the highway was temporarily closed; 2) Mudslides moved several houses off their foundations in Libby and caused mud up to 3 feet in residential yards, and caused downed trees onto power lines leading to a fire; 3) Pipe Creek flooded a residential basement; 4) Mudslide at Wolf Creek trapped several cars, requiring a search and rescue team.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MSO wrote it up.
Extensive flooding included the following damage in Lincoln County: 1) An approach to Pleasant Valley Bridge on U.S. Highway 2 over Fisher River weakened and the highway was temporarily closed; 2) Mudslides moved several houses off their foundations in Libby and caused mud up to 3 feet in residential yards, and caused downed trees onto power lines leading to a fire; 3) Pipe Creek flooded a residential basement; 4) Mudslide at Wolf Creek trapped several cars, requiring a search and rescue team. Damage from flooding in Sanders County include Little Bitterroot River Road, Mosquito Creek Road, Little Thompson River Roads, Vermillion Road and Beaver Creek Road being washed out in spots.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Montana in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, April 1997
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5592706.