Montana, 2019

Flood in Montana, May 14 to 21, 2019

May 14 to 21, 2019 · NWS MSO · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Well above normal temperatures caused increased snow melt leading to higher river flows.

Where it happened

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MSO wrote it up.

Well above normal temperatures caused increased snow melt leading to higher river flows.

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 14, 2:48 AM MST, 8 hours 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 14, 2:48 AM MST, 8 hours 42 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
348 AM MDT Tue May 14 2019

.DISCUSSION...Well above normal temperatures, similar to
yesterday, are again expected today, but a cold front is on track
to bring changes during this evening. Central Idaho and northwest
Montana are first to see the cold front and increased moisture
this evening. The main area of moisture is expected to be in the
Clearwater Mountains of central Idaho and into northwest Montana;
showers in these areas will linger into the early morning hours on
Wednesday. This cold front is the beginning of the pattern change
to cooler and more wet. Highs on Wednesday will be around 5-10
degrees cooler and shower chances increase through the day.

As a low pressure system begins to move on shore over northern
California, the upper level pattern becomes southerly over the
Northern Rockies. The models are still indicating that the best
chance for thunderstorms will be on Thursday afternoon and
evening. These storms will be capable of fairly heavy rainfall
rates. This low pressure system will be the catalyst of the
overall pattern change for the western United States. Several
features will be moving through the region through the weekend
into next week, so the Northern Rockies should be prepared for
cool and showery conditions.

&&

.AVIATION...The ridge of high pressure will be the dominant
feature for the next 18-24 hours. Mid to high level clouds
continue to stream through this ridge. A few showers should
develop across Lemhi county into southwest Montana this afternoon
and evening. A cold front is expected to swing through the region
this evening into Wednesday morning.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...None.
ID...None.
&&

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Missoula

When
May 14, 11:30 AM MST to May 21, 3:30 PM MST
Where
Missoula County, 1.58 mi NNW of Missoula Southwest to 1.92 mi NNW of Missoula Southwest
Cause
Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
46.870, -114.067

Flooding was observed in the Orchard Homes area of Missoula as the Clark Fork River rose above minor flood stage beginning midday on the 14th. The Clark Fork River's flow peaked at 9.15 feet late on the 18th, and finally fell below flood stage late on the 21st with residential flooding coming to an end. Observed impacts included flooding on the north end of Tower Street and on Kehrwald Drive with some water into basements of adjacent homes.

What these are

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.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Montana in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Montana, May 2019

Sources

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: 815497.