Most culverts and ditches are clogged with snow from plowing and snowfall. The excess moisture runs off into roadways and low laying land.
Recent warm temperatures and rainfall have caused some flooding around Potomac.
County and non-county roads had water flowing across due to recent rainfall, warm temperatures and snow-clogged culverts. Some vehicles have trouble navigating the rutted roadways due to recent rain and snowmelt.
POTOMAC - Some county and non-county roads throughout Potomac have recently been flooded out, iced up, washed out, slushed up and snowed in. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Missoula, this winter the La Nina weather has brought warm and moist Pacific systems and less arctic air temperatures causing Potomac precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow.
NWS forecaster and meteorologist Stefanie Henry said, "Last winter was a much colder and harsh winter while this one has more rain." Henry added that [Potomac] is heading into a colder weather pattern due to arctic air moving in.
Winter 2017 was La Nina too, but more arctic air caused the precipitation to fall as snow with less moisture in it. "Colder temperatures tend to have a higher snow-to-liquid ratio [light, fluffy snow]; and can pile up quickly," said Henry.
In Jan. 2017, there was 0.92 inches of liquid precipitation with snowfall at 11.3 inches according to the Western Regional Climate Center Cooperative Weather Observer (COOP) who manages a site and collects data for Potomac. During Jan. 2018, the Potomac COOP data for liquid precipitation amounted to 1.31 inches with 10.4 inches of snowfall.
During Feb. 2017, the COOP measurement for liquid that fell was 2.10 inches with snowfall totaling 20.11 inches. For Feb. 1-9, 2018 Potomac received 1.43 inches of liquid and 11.5 inches of snowfall.
The NWS utilizes a USFS remote automated weather station (RAWS) located at Stinkwater Creek near Potomac at an elevation of 5,443 feet.
The Stinkwater RAWS recorded 0.79 inches of precipitation that fell in Potomac for January 2017 with 2.94 inches for 2018. February 2017 data showed 1.96 inches and 2.74 inches for 2018.
This recent rain and snowmelt has no place to go except down roadways, into hay meadows and out of creek banks because the ground is still frozen.
Union Creek on the valley floor is level with its snowbanks.
Most culverts are clogged with snow from snowfall and from plows clearing roads. The water cannot flow into ditches because they are filled with snow forcing the water onto the roadways and into fields.
Missoula County posted signs for motorists to be aware of the water hazards on some roads. The snow, ice and water combined have made deep ruts and road-size puddles which are hard for low riding or short wheel-based vehicles to navigate.
The NWS in Missoula is staffed 24/7 and can be contacted at http://www.weather.gov/Missoula or 406-329-4840.
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