Debris slides, avalanches, high water and flooding continue to impact Glacier National Park due to three days of heavy rain plus snow at higher elevations.

Through today, avalanche danger is considered high along Going-to-the-Sun Road above Haystack Creek west of Logan Pass and above Siyeh Bend on the east side.

Several snow slides, with debris, were observed near Haystack and the Alps area on Sun Road. The slides began at high elevation and crossed the road.

Due to the hazards, hikers and bikers and park personnel will not be allowed to go beyond the Loop through today.

Plowing work on the road is expected to resume on Sunday.

“They are going to have to do some re-plowing of areas they’ve already plowed,” said Denise Germann, the park’s public affairs specialist.

On the east side of the park, Sun Road will be open to vehicles as far as Rising Sun.

About two weeks ago, park officials estimated Sun Road might be opened today to vehicles over Logan Pass, but this week’s weather caused significant setbacks.

According to the National Weather Service, 4 to 8 inches of rain fell over the park and surrounding areas this week. Sperry Chalet received 20 inches of new snow.

At Goat Haunt on the park’s northern boundary, a whopping 7.38 inches of rain was recorded.

That has caused some fooding, with dock facilities at Goat Haunt sustaining some damage. The tour boat operation out of Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada has been temporarily suspended and the area is being monitored for additional flooding problems.

Many Glacier received 5.6 inches of rain, raising concerns about Swiftcurrent Lake rising to a level where it could swamp the Swiftcurrent Bridge, which provides the main access to the Many Glacier Hotel complex. But the bridge connection remains clear.

The St. Mary Campground is closed due to flooding and water damage, although some areas of the campground may be available this weekend. The St. Mary area received 6.14 inches of rain, causing Divide Creek to surge, but not to the point of causing flooding in St. Mary.

Germann added, however, that higher temperatures are expected and an accelerated snow melt still has the potential to add to high flows on streams in the park. Visitors are advised to use extreme caution around all water.

In the North Fork District of the park, access to Kintla Lake has been closed at the head of Big Prairie, about seven miles north of the Polebridge, due to water on the road.

When the rain finally relented Thursday, flood watches were lifted on rivers west of the Continental Divide. None of the rivers in the Flathead River system reached flood stage although they rose substantially.

On the east side of the Divide, a flood warning has been extended through tonight.

The St. Mary River was running a foot and a half above flood stage on Thursday.

The Milk and Two Medicine rivers, along with Divide, Cut Bank and Swiftcurrent creeks are all above flood level but are expected to fall below flood stage over the next day or two.

The Marias River at Shelby was nearly a foot above flood stage on Thursday and was expected to stay above flood level until Sunday.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.