Gallatin Still Constipated

ICE PLUG
BUILDING A LAKE

Warming Weather Not A Blessing

cold weather just as bad

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.. The National Weather Service has, again, extended the flood warning for the Lower Gallatin River. The ice jam near Big Sky, Montana has the river out of it's banks and the impounded lake is getting large and dangerous.
.. The Erwin Bridge fishing access site has been closed due to dangerous conditions, and other areas are considered problematic for access.
.. Warm weather will bust the ice dam and flood the river downstream. Cold weather will maintain the ice dam and the impounded lake will expand. It's a lose - lose situation.

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FLOOD WARNING
Issue Date: 1248 PM MST TUE JAN 12 2010
Expiration: 300 PM MST WED JAN 13 2010

MTC031-132200-
/O.EXT.KTFX.FA.W.0004.000000T0000Z-100113T2200Z/
/00000.0.IJ.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
1248 PM MST TUE JAN 12 2010
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS EXTENDED THE AREAL FLOOD WARNING FOR GALLATIN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
* AT 1242 PM MST THE GALLATIN RIVER REMAINED OVER ITS BANKS DUE TO A MAJOR ICE JAM NEAR BIG SKY, INCLUDING AREAS ALONG HIGHWAY 191 AT RAINBOW RANCH ROAD. REPORTS INDICATE THAT LITTLE CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN THE OVERALL LEVEL OF FLOODING AND ICE BUILDUP ALONG THE RIVER OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS.
* IMPACTS: WHEN THE ICE JAM BREAKS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER TO RUSH DOWN THE GALLATIN RIVER QUICKLY CAUSING MORE FLOODING PROBLEMS DOWNSTREAM.
* ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT DAMAGE COULD OCCUR ALONG THE SHORELINE AND TO BRIDGES CROSSING THE GALLATIN RIVER FROM ICE AND OTHER DEBRIS WASHING DOWN THE RIVER.
* ANYONE WHO LIVES ALONG THE GALLATIN RIVER FROM UPSTREAM OF RAINBOW RANCH TO THREE FORKS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE QUICKLY SHOULD FLOODING OCCUR.
* ANYONE WHO PLANS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY ON THE GALLATIN RIVER SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE ICE OR DEBRIS FLOW WHEN THE ICE JAM BREAKS.
* A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR HAS BEEN REPORTED. STREAM RISES WILL BE SLOW AND FLASH FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED. HOWEVER, ALL INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS IMMEDIATELY.
* PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS. MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DON'T DROWN.
&&
LAT...LON 4450 11113 4474 11137 4563 11135 4563 11153
4580 11179 4579 11171 4594 11149 4601 11142
4607 11142 4612 11135 4618 11134 4619 11079
4559 11080 4558 11086 4551 11087 4551 11092
4536 11092 4535 11103 4447 11105
$

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