Forecasts for flooding and heavy rainfall prompted Glacier National Park to issue a preemptive closure of the alpine section of Going-to-the-Sun Road on Sunday evening.

A flood watch was issued for the West Glacier area, as well as the Flathead and Mission valleys, from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service in Missoula warned that 1 to 2 inches of rain could fall across the area, with 2 to 4 inches in the mountains along the Continental Divide and in Glacier National Park. The bulk of the heavy precipitation was expected Monday into early Tuesday morning.

Residents across the region should be prepared for flooding in creeks and streams and in other low-lying areas or urban locations with poor drainage.

The closure on Going-to-the-Sun Road extended from Avalanche Creek to Jackson Glacier Overlook. Shuttles were expected to run on schedule Sunday but will not run Monday, Sept. 7. Regular shuttle service is scheduled to end for the season Tuesday, Sept. 8.

"Visitors should expect detours, delays and limited access while crews respond to hazardous conditions created by fast-moving water, debris and saturated soils," a press release from the park said.

Park officials planned to reopen areas when conditions improve.

Temperatures across the region were forecast to rebound to seasonal norms Wednesday through Friday as highs touch the 70s and 80s.

By next weekend, another unseasonably cool weather system could move into Montana, bringing the potential for snow in the mountains.