The Sun River at Simms is cresting now and it will be at above moderate flood stage through Thursday; residents can expect minor flooding all weekend.
The National Weather Service in Great Falls says that the river has reached its third-highest crest ever; flood stage is 7.5 feet, and as of Wednesday morning, the river level is 10.7 feet.
Around 3:50 a.m. on Wednesday, search and rescue crews were dispatched to several homes in Sun River. Overnight, officials went door to door warning people of the predicted flood stages, but it was not mandatory to evacuate.
Currently closed:
- Highway 21 from Simms to Augusta
- Highway 287 from Augusta airport south of town to Highway 408 to the north
- High 435 from Highway 200 to Augusta
- Highway 200 from Highway 279 to Highway 287
- Rogers Pass
- Bowman’s corner to Highway 278
- Simms to Fairfield cut across
- Highway 200 junction with US-287 with US-89 near Sun River
MT FWP said that the Medicine River Fishing Access Site and the Fort Shaw Fishing Access Site have been closed due to the high water. Both sites have been gated and will remain closed until the Sun River recedes and the area can be cleaned up.
The U.S. Postal Service stated that rising waters have created access issues for four area Post Offices. The following offices will be closed until further notice: Augusta 59410; Sims 59477; Fort Shaw 59477; and Sun River 59483. The mail is not at risk and is being held at the distribution center.
The town of Augusta is continuing to deal with flooding. The town is currently inaccessible as a bridge has washed out less than a mile away on MT-21. Highway 287 is also closed around the town with barricades in place.
Teresa Lane also shared photos with our STORMTracker Weather Team that showed a grizzly bear caught in the flooding near Augusta. Lane stated that the grizzly was stuck, but later made it out of the creek.
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