Montana river recedes, but floodwaters likely to resurge
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Montana's Clark Fork River near Missoula began to recede Saturday after cresting at its highest level in a century, but the floodwaters are expected to surge again next week with no end in sight for the hundreds of homes threatened.
The river crested Friday night at 13.82 feet (4.2 meters), its highest level since 1908, after knocking trailer homes off their foundations and sweeping trees and other dangerous debris downstream.
Cooler weather is re-freezing the mountain snowpack, which has slowed the snowmelt rushing into the river and will allow the water level to drop slightly over the next few days, National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Leach said.