Widespread flooding in Lincoln County washed out multiple bridges and swamped some roadways and neighborhoods around Libby on Thursday, prompting officials to issue emergency travel restrictions.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office requested “necessary travel only” countywide because of the risk of flooding and mudslides.

Gov. Greg Gianforte declared a state of emergency for Lincoln and Sanders counties.

Excessive rainfall combined with snowmelt caused the Yaak River near Troy to rise by roughly 5 feet over the last two days. The river was at 8.3 feet Thursday afternoon, above the 8-foot flood stage.

The Fisher River near Libby had risen about 4 feet since Monday and was at 7.3 feet Thursday afternoon. It was expected to hit minor flood stage at 7.5 feet by the afternoon.

A flood watch was issued for all of Northwest Montana through Thursday afternoon. Gianforte said the Montana Department of Emergency Services had deployed resources to assist local first responders.

The Sheriff’s Office reported that washed out bridges included the Granite Creek bridge on Big Cherry Creek, the bridge on Farm to Market Road over Libby Creek and the Keeler Creek Bridge. Portions of Libby Creek Road were washed out as well.

Fifth Street Extension was compromised, and on U.S. 2 South at mile marker 44, there was standing water and hazardous conditions.

Flower Creek, which runs through Libby, was swollen above its banks and threatening bridges. 

An evacuation was ordered for Tailback Road in Troy, and a shelter was open at Assembly of God Church in Libby.

Residents in Libby were advised to boil water due to turbidity affecting the quality of drinking water.

Power outages affected hundreds of Flathead Electric Cooperative customers south of the city Thursday morning.

Troy and Libby schools canceled classes Thursday because of the flooding.

Cabinet Peaks canceled its Festival of Trees event this weekend as the hospital assists with displaced residents.

Sandbagging locations were set up at the TCI gravel pit, Wards Road, Pioneer Park, and the county shops in Troy and Libby.

An atmospheric river has blasted the Pacific Northwest with intense rain and mountain snow since Sunday.

The Cabinet Mountains received more than a foot of water equivalent over the last six days. The weather station at Poorman Creek south of Libby reported 5 inches of precipitation over the last 24 hours.

“Which is incredible,” commented National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Noble. The 24-hour total is the third most all-time for the location.

The historic weather system started as snow and transitioned to heavy rain earlier in the week, a recipe for flooding.

“The atmospheric river trended northward and was pointed right at Northwest Montana yesterday and today,” Noble said.

The train of moisture was predicted to waver Thursday, he said, but area mountains could see another inch of precipitation by Friday.

READ MORE ABOUT THE FLOODING IN LIBBY:

Receding flood waters begin to reveal scope of damage in Lincoln County

Flood meetings planned in Libby, Troy this weekend

Northwest Montana faces another round of heavy rain

Flood response and updates shared at Libby town hall

How Libby-area flooding could affect historic Superfund site

    Volunteers place sandbags where Cherry Creek flooded south of Libby Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    The bridge over Farm to Market Road south of Libby washed out early Thursday morning, Dec. 11, 2025, after days of rain and warm temperatures caused extensive flooding in south Lincoln County. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    A property on Chase Cutoff was experiencing flooding from Lake Creek Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, after days of rain and warm temperatures in south Lincoln County. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    An aerial photo shows flooding around Libby on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Nathan Cernick photo)