Warm weather has produced enough runoff into the Yellowstone River
to cause it to rise and produce ice jams in Montana near Sidney.
This rising water will continue to move downstream and may also
break up the ice on the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers west of
Williston in North Dakota. As the ice breaks up in North Dakota, the
risk of water levels rising along the Yellowstone and Missouri
rivers will increase as ice blockages occur, but the periods of high
water should be relatively brief and self resolving. Nonetheless,
those living along the river and other interests on the flood plains
should be diligent of rapidly changing river conditions.
* WHAT…Flooding caused by ice jams is expected.
* WHERE…The Missouri and Yellowstone River flood plains in
southwest Williams and northwest McKenzie Counties.
* WHEN…Until noon CST /1100 AM MST/ Thursday.
* IMPACTS…Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying
and flood-prone locations is expected. Depending on ice behavior,
any release of the ice jam could result in sudden rises of water,
leading to a rapid flooding of low lying areas.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– At 1130 AM CST /1030 AM MST/, on Tuesday, March 4th,
Emergency Management reported ice jams moving downstream
towards the warned area. Flooding is expected in low-lying
areas over the coming days.
– Some locations that will experience flooding include…
The Yellowstone and Missouri River flood plains near
Williston, Fort Union Trading Post, East Fairview, and Fort
Buford State Historical Site.
