Many Glacier Valley closed due to flood risk

The entire Many Glacier Valley of Glacier National Park was closed and visitors were evacuated from the area Monday as widespread, heavy rainfall drenched the region.

The closure included Many Glacier Hotel, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and the Many Glacier Campground.

All trails in the Many Glacier Valley were to remain closed until further notice. Commercial boat tours operated by the Glacier Park Boat Company and horseback rides operated by the Swan Mountain Outfitters in Many Glacier were also cancelled.

Park officials pre-emptively closed the alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road on Sunday at 2 p.m. in advance of the expected storm. The Sun Road closure was extended Monday from Avalanche Creek on the west side to Sun Point on the east side due to flooding and debris. 

"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 Service warned.

Seventy-two-hour rainfall totals were impressive for Glacier Park's mountain terrain, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Messina. West Flattop saw 4.3 inches of precipitation, Goat Haunt picked up 5.6 inches, Many Glacier recorded 3.6 inches while West Glacier received 3.23 inches. 

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning Monday for the west side of Glacier and for Swiftcurrent Creek on the east side of the park.

Widespread rain was expected to continue through Tuesday, with an additional 1-3 inches possible.

Outside of the park, a weather station at Noisy Basin in the Swan Range saw 6 inches of rain. Several inches of snow fell on mountain passes across the region, with 6 inches at Lost Trail Pass, 7 inches near Porters Corner in Granite County and 8 inches near Cobalt in Lemhi County, Idaho.

Conditions were forecast to improve by Wednesday with warming temperatures and drier weather for Independence Day weekend.