Montana, 2014Flooding in Montana, May 24 to 27, 2014
May 24 to 27, 2014 · NWS MSO · 3 events in 2 counties and zones
On May 24, the NRCS SNOTEL snow water equivalent index for the Bitterroot River Basin was 204% of normal while the Upper Clark Fork Basin saw 165% of normal. This above normal amount of water in the snowpack combined with above normal temperatures contributed to minor flooding along the Bitterroot and Clark Fork Rivers in the last two weeks of May.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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.
On May 24, the NRCS SNOTEL snow water equivalent index for the Bitterroot River Basin was 204% of normal while the Upper Clark Fork Basin saw 165% of normal. This above normal amount of water in the snowpack combined with above normal temperatures contributed to minor flooding along the Bitterroot and Clark Fork Rivers in the last two weeks of May.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Missoula, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 24, 2:26 AM MST, 3 hours 49 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 24, 2:26 AM MST, 3 hours 49 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
326 AM MDT Sat May 24 2014
.DISCUSSION...The low levels of the atmosphere remain moist this
morning even after the cold front that passed last night. A weak
shortwave combined with the moisture will cause showers to
continue across western Montana this morning before decreasing
quickly around noon. Daytime heating will cause more showers over
the mountains late this afternoon, but little precipitation is
expected in the valleys as the day time heating will be competing
with a weak ridge building over the are this after noon.
The next chance of rain will be Monday with a weak shortwave in
southwest flow ahead of a bigger system moving into the area for
Wednesday and Thursday.
Wednesday and Thursday have the potential to be the wettest,
strongest system the northern Rockies has seen for some time.
However, some forecast models predict it will split into two
weaker systems as it moves over Idaho and Montana. If this
happens, it will be much more like today with just light showers.
Next weekend will be cooler and more unsettled than this weekend
with a deep, slow moving trough progressing across the western US.
&&
.AVIATION...A plume of moisture is moving through the Northern
Rockies this morning causing an increase in showers and lowering
ceilings. The showers will be light, but should still reduce
visibilities. KMSO and KGPI have the best chance of experiencing a
shower during the morning hours. During the afternoon, the
atmosphere will become unstable enough for the redevelopment of
terrain based showers and thunderstorms. The best chance for
thunderstorms will be along the continental divide down into
southwest Montana.
&&
.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...None.
ID...None.
&&
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
https://www.facebook.com/US.NationalWeatherService.Missoula.gov
https://www.twitter.com/NWSMissoula
Flood, Ravalli
- When
- May 24, 6:15 AM MST to 3:00 PM MST
- Where
- Ravalli County, 8.02 mi N of Florence to 2.23 mi NNE of Florence
- Cause
- Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 46.746, -114.081
The USGS Bitterroot River gauge at Darby reported a peak discharge rate of 8,590 cubic feet per second at 915 am MDT 5/24 and a peak height of 7.84 feet (7.5 ft. is the minor flood stage) at 8 am MDT 5/24. A gravel county road, Ross Lane, located just to the west of the Bitterroot River in Florence experienced minor flooding. The fishing access in Florence was totally inundated but was also closed due to construction. Also a few fields were flooded between Florence and Lolo.
Flood, Missoula
- When
- May 25, 11:45 AM MST to May 26, 5:15 PM MST
- Where
- Missoula County, 3.46 mi ESE of Lolo to 1.86 mi ESE of Lolo
- Cause
- Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 46.764, -114.050
The USGS Bitterroot River gauge at Missoula reported a peak height of 11.11 feet (11 ft. is the minor flood stage) and peak discharge rate of 17,300 cubic feet per second at 8:30 pm MDT on May 25. A NWS employee reported field flooding between Lolo and Missoula.
Flood, Ravalli
- When
- May 27, 7:45 AM MST to 8:45 AM MST
- Where
- Ravalli County, 8.02 mi N of Florence to 2.23 mi NNE of Florence
- Cause
- Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 46.746, -114.081
The USGS Bitterroot River gauge at Darby reported 5 instances where the river height surpassed the 7.50 ft. flood-stage: 7.84 ft. 8 am MDT 5/24, 7.57 ft. 8 am MDT 5/26, 7.76 ft. 815 am MDT 5/27, 7.63 ft. 8 am MDT 5/28 & 7.67 ft. 815 am MDT 5/29. It also reported a peak discharge rate of 8,590 cubic feet per second at 915 am MDT 5/24. Field flooding was reported by a NWS employee between Lolo and Florence.
- Flood
- Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Flash Flood and Hail in New Mexico, May 24, 2014$15,000 · 2.75 in hail · 11 events
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, May 24, 20142.75 in hail · 16 events
- Lightning Strike in Wyoming, May 24, 20141 injured · 1 event
- Flood and Hail in Missouri, May 24 to 26, 2014$3,000 · 52 kt wind · 5 events
- Winter Weather in Colorado, May 24 to 25, 20145 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, May 24, 2014$4,000 · 1.5 in hail · 4 events
- Flash Flood and Heavy Rain in Wyoming, May 24 to 25, 2014$10,000 · 2 events
- Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, May 24, 2014$2,000 · 56 kt wind · 2 events
- Hail in New Mexico, May 24, 20141.5 in hail · 2 events
- Hail in Colorado, May 24, 20141 in hail · 2 events
- Flood in Kansas, May 24, 20141 event
- Tornado in Wyoming, May 24, 2014EF0 · 1 event
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: 510532, 510534, 510684.