Northwest Montana faces another round of heavy rain
MATT BALDWIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 months AGO
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)
Hagadone Media Montana REGIONAL MANAGING EDITOR Matt Baldwin is the regional editor for Hagadone Media Montana, where he helps guide coverage across eight newspapers throughout Northwest Montana. Under his leadership, the Daily Inter Lake received the Montana Newspaper Association’s Sam Gilluly Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. A graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism, Baldwin has called Montana home for nearly 30 years. He and his wife, Sadie, have three daughters. He can be reached at 406‑758‑4447 or [email protected]. IMPACT: Baldwin’s work helps ensure Northwest Montana residents stay connected to their communities and informed about the issues that shape their everyday lives. | December 13, 2025 9:00 AM
Another round of prolonged rain is expected to drench much of Northwest Montana as the region recovers from floods that destroyed multiple bridges in Lincoln County last week.
The atmospheric river will once again target the Pacific Northwest with heavy precipitation beginning Monday through Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Missoula warned.
Four-day totals ending Friday morning will be 1 to 2 inches of liquid for Libby and Troy, with 3 to 4 inches in the Cabinet Mountains and higher terrain along the Idaho-Montana border.
The heaviest rain will fall Tuesday and Tuesday night.
"Due to already saturated ground, particularly in Northwest Montana, this rainfall increases the risk of rock and landslides, stream and river rises, and minor flooding," the Weather Service warned.
Heavy precipitation is also on tap for the Clearwater, Swan, Mission and Flathead ranges, which could see 1.5 to 3 inches of liquid.
Snow levels will top out at around 7,000 feet before crashing to the valley floor by Thursday.
The Fisher River near Libby dropped to 5.7 feet on Saturday after cresting above flood stage Dec. 11 at 7.67 feet. The river was projected to crest again Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 6.79 feet, just below minor flood stage.
The Yaak River near Troy was at 6.12 feet Saturday after topping out Dec. 11 at above flood stage at 8.3 feet. The river was projected to crest again Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 6.4 feet.
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