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.

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 8.2 feet Thursday morning, above the 8-foot flood stage.

The Fisher River near Libby had risen about 4 feet since Monday and was at 6.8 feet Thursday morning. It was expected to hit minor flood stage at 7.6 feet by the afternoon.

A flood watch was issued for all of Northwest Montana through Thursday afternoon. Gov. Greg 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 Cheery 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.

Flower Creek, which runs through Libby, was swollen above its banks and threatening bridges. The Fifth Street extension in Libby was described as compromised. 

An evacuation was order for Tailback Road in Troy. A shelter was open at Assembly of God Church in Libby.

The Montana Department of Transportation reported closures on U.S. 2 between Libby and Kalispell, as well as Montana 56 between Libby and Noxon because of water on the roadways. Other secondary roads across the county were closed as well.

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

Power outages were affecting hundreds of Flathead Electric Cooperative customers south of the city.

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

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 had 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.