Montana, 2018Flooding in Montana, April 16 to 30, 2018
April 16 to 30, 2018 · NWS GGW · 9 events in 2 counties and zones
Seasonal spring-time temperatures consistently above freezing allowed the Milk River and its smaller tributaries to begin flowing. This raised the level of the Milk River along most of its official forecast points through the latter half of April.
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
- 9
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.
Seasonal spring-time temperatures consistently above freezing allowed the Milk River and its smaller tributaries to begin flowing. This raised the level of the Milk River along most of its official forecast points through the latter half of April.
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 Glasgow, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 16, 2:02 AM MST, 43 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 16, 2:02 AM MST, 43 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Glasgow MT
302 AM MDT Mon Apr 16 2018
.DISCUSSION...
Upper ridge that is currently over Eastern Montana will move to
the east this morning. Flow aloft will turn to the SW as an upper
trough moves inland from the Pacific. Most of the forecast area will
remain dry today as it will take until late afternoon for the
moisture associated with the incoming system to arrive.
Temperatures will remain mild as thermal trough will be over the
area today.
Most of NE Montana will be in a tight surface gradient between
high pressure in the Dakotas and a surface low over SW Montana and
NW Wyoming. This will bring gusty east winds to the region. This
low will move to south central Montana by evening.
A cold front will move through Eastern Montana tonight with a
narrow band of moisture behind the front. A shortwave in nearly
southerly flow aloft will move through NE Montana tonight and
Tuesday which will enhance the precip. Temperatures will be cold
enough for snow late tonight and Tuesday morning north of the
Missouri River. At this point, it looks like accumulating snow
will occur across Northern Valley and Daniels Counties where 2 to
4 inches is likely. Will issue a Winter Weather Advisory for those
areas late tonight and Tuesday morning.
While the precipitation continues in the east during the day on
Tuesday with the upper trough over the area, temperatures will
warm enough by noon for all rain.
The trough moves to the east Tuesday Night and and upper ridge
builds into Montana on Wednesday with mainly dry weather. Thursday
remains dry while the ridge moves to the east.
The next upper trough splits as it moves inland from the Pacific
Wednesday Night and Thursday. It will become an upper low over the
desert SW on Thursday and stay well south of the forecast area. NE
Montana will be in a northern stream ridge with dry and mild
weather Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
A shortwave trough moving across the Canadian Prairies Saturday
Night and Sunday is expected to flatten the ridge. A weak and dry
cold front is expected for the forecast area.
Models are pointing toward some moisture with a wave next Monday
that could bring a chance of showers. Forrester
&&
.AVIATION...
Expected Flight Category: VFR today and mainly VFR tonight with
occasional MVFR
Synopsis: Mid and high-level clouds will continue to drift over
the region today ahead of a cold front that is expected to move
through the area tonight. Some low clouds along with rain and at
times at KGGW and KOLF, snow, will move into the area tonight
which could produce MVFR ceilings and visibilities.
Winds: Expect mostly east to southeast winds at 15-25 kts to
increase to 20-30 kts with gusts to 35 kts at times this morning.
The gusty east winds will gradually diminish tonight to around 10
knots by Tuesday morning.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
The continued warm temperatures across the Treasure State will
continue to melt snow this week. Runoff into streams and creeks
is still on the rise, leading to increased hydrology concerns
across the region.
Currently, a Flood Advisory is still in effect for Petroleum
County for continued issues with snowmelt flooding impacting low-
lying fields and roadways.
Also, a Flood Watch has been issued for the main stem of, and
tributaries that flow into, the Milk River in Phillips and Valley
counties. River rises are expected to continue this week. Beaver
Creek is nearing flood stage at both the Hinsdale and Guston
Coulee gages SW of Saco early this morning and a Flood Warning
will be issued for that creek. River forecast have the Milk River
reaching flood stage in the near future in some areas.
To monitor river stage readings, go to our Advanced Hydrologic
Prediction Service (AHPS) page at www.weather.gov/glasgow then
click on "Rivers and Lakes" then "River Observations". Data for
this page are provided by the USGS.
&&
.GLASGOW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory from 9 PM this evening to noon MDT
Tuesday for Daniels...Northern Valley.
Flood Watch through Wednesday morning for Central and Southeast
Phillips...Central and Southern Valley.
&&
weather.gov/glasgow
Flood, Valley
- When
- April 16, 2:45 AM MST to April 19, 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Valley County, 4.88 mi WNW of Hinsdale to 4.54 mi WNW of Hinsdale
- Cause
- Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
- Reported by
- River/Stream Gage
- Coordinates
- 48.427, -107.178
Excessive snow melt caused flooding at the stream gauge at Beaver Creek near Hinsdale (BCHM8). The gauge recorded stream levels reaching flood stage at 2:45 AM MST on April 16th. The river crested at 17.42 feet at 3:30 AM MST on April 18th, then fell steadily, dropping below flood stage at 6:00 PM MST on April 20th.
Flood, Phillips
- When
- April 17, 2:45 AM MST to April 22, 2:45 PM MST
- Where
- Phillips County, 10.45 mi ESE of Saco to 14.9 mi NNW of Bowdoin
- Cause
- Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
- Reported by
- River/Stream Gage
- Coordinates
- 48.430, -107.110
Excessive snow melt caused flooding at the stream gauge at Beaver Creek near Saco (GSCM8). The gauge recorded stream levels reaching flood stage at 1:45 AM MST on April 17th. The river crested at 11.3 feet at 9:30 PM MST on April 20th, then fell steadily, dropping below flood stage at 1:45 PM MST on April 22th.
Flood, Valley
- When
- April 17, 2:45 AM MST to April 22, 2:45 PM MST
- Where
- Valley County, 2.49 mi NNW of Hinsdale to 20.36 mi WNW of Hinsdale
- Cause
- Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
- Reported by
- River/Stream Gage
- Coordinates
- 48.430, -107.110
Excessive snow melt caused flooding at the stream gauge at Beaver Creek near Saco (GSCM8). The gauge recorded stream levels reaching flood stage at 1:45 AM MST on April 17th. The river crested at 11.3 feet at 9:30 PM MST on April 20th, then fell steadily, dropping below flood stage at 1:45 PM MST on April 22th.
Flood, Phillips
- When
- April 17, 9:30 PM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Phillips County, 7.66 mi NE of Saco to 6.43 mi NE of Saco
- Cause
- Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
- Reported by
- River/Stream Gage
- Coordinates
- 48.535, -107.194
Excessive snow melt caused flooding at the river gauge on the Milk River near Saco (SACM8). The gauge recorded river levels reaching flood stage at 9:30 PM MST on April 17th. The river crested at 24.22 feet at 3:00 PM MST on April 23th. River levels then gradually declined, but stayed at or above flood stage into early May.
Flood, Valley
- When
- April 17, 9:30 PM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Valley County, 7.31 mi NE of Saco to 6.01 mi NE of Saco
- Cause
- Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
- Reported by
- River/Stream Gage
- Coordinates
- 48.530, -107.198
Excessive snow melt caused flooding at the river gauge on the Milk River near Saco (SACM8). The gauge recorded river levels reaching flood stage at 9:30 PM MST on April 17th. The river crested at 24.22 feet at 3:00 PM MST on April 23th. River levels then gradually declined, but stayed at or above flood stage into early May.
Flood, Valley
- When
- April 18, 1:00 AM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Valley County, 2.17 mi NE of Tampico to 2.55 mi NW of Tampico
- Cause
- Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
- Reported by
- River/Stream Gage
- Coordinates
- 48.321, -106.785
Excessive snow melt caused flooding at the river gauge on the Milk River near Tampico (TMPM8). The gauge recorded river levels reaching flood stage at 1:00 AM MST on April 18th. The river crested at 26.98 feet at 2:00 AM MST on April 25th. River levels remained near the crest through the end of April, and remained at or above flood stage into May.
Flood, Phillips
- When
- April 18, 2:45 AM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Phillips County, 3.06 mi W of Dodson to 2.87 mi W of Dodson
- Cause
- Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
- Reported by
- River/Stream Gage
- Coordinates
- 48.404, -108.297
The river gauge at Dodson (DMRM8) rose above its flood stage of 23 feet at 2:45 AM MST on April 18th. It crested at 28.14 feet at 7:00 AM MST on April 23rd. The river remained above flood stage into early May.
Flood, Valley
- When
- April 18, 8:30 AM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Valley County, 3.2 mi SE of Glasgow to 4.4 mi SSE of Glasgow
- Cause
- Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
- Reported by
- River/Stream Gage
- Coordinates
- 48.169, -106.579
Excessive snow melt caused flooding at the river gauge on the Milk River near Glasgow (GLWM8). The gauge recorded river levels reaching flood stage at 8:30 AM MST on April 18th. The river crested at 30.09 feet at 3:30 AM MST on April 29th. River levels remained near the crest through the end of April, and remained at or above flood stage into May.
Flood, Phillips
- When
- April 20, 12:15 PM MST to April 30, 6:30 PM MST
- Where
- Phillips County, 0.84 mi NNE of Malta to 1.14 mi NNE of Malta
- Cause
- Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
- Reported by
- River/Stream Gage
- Coordinates
- 48.361, -107.861
Excessive snow melt caused flooding at the river gauge on the Milk River at Malta (MALM8). The gauge recorded river levels reaching flood stage at 12:15 PM MST on April 20th. The river crested at 18.13 feet at 3:50 PM MST on April 26th, then slowly declined, dropping below flood stage at 6:30 PM MST on April 30th.
- 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.
- High Wind in Vermont, April 16, 2018$275,000 · 63 kt wind · 4 events
- Strong Wind in New York, April 16, 2018$180,000 · 5 events
- High Wind in Utah, April 16, 2018$50,000 · 74 kt wind · 7 events
- Flooding and Strong Wind in Massachusetts, April 16, 2018$28,000 · 14 events
- Strong Wind in Connecticut, April 16, 2018$50,000 · 1 event
- High Wind in Wyoming, April 16 to 17, 201874 kt wind · 31 events
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in New Jersey, April 16 to 17, 201825 events
- Debris Flows and Flooding in Washington, April 16 to 19, 2018$23,000 · 4 events
- High Wind and Strong Wind in California, April 16, 2018$20,000 · 62 kt wind · 6 events
- High Wind in New York, April 16, 2018$20,000 · 52 kt wind · 2 events
- Hail and Lightning Strike in California, April 16, 20180.25 in hail · 15 events
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in New York, April 16 to 17, 201813 events
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: 748724, 750220, 750221, 748741, 748742, 748749, 748699, 748811, 748731.