No major flooding as snow thaws
A pair of mallard ducks enjoy a spring day as winter snow begins to melt. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent).
Mineral County drivers contend with muddy roads and pot holes as snow begins to melt with temperatures rising into the 30s and 40s. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent).
Mineral County Sheriffs office cautions drivers about falling rock and debris as snow thaws around the area like this boulder which fell on Mullan Road near Superior last week. (Photo courtesy of Mineral County Sheriffs Department).
THE MONTANA Department of Transportation warns drivers to slow down since snow is melting onto roadways — making them slick. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent)
“As the ground starts thawing, the rocks start falling,” was a post made on the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page last week. A photo accompanied the post of a big rock which had come down on Mullan Road East near the Big Eddy fishing access in Superior on March 11. “Please be aware of your surroundings and pay attention while driving,” they warned in the post.
There were also warnings of thawing ice and some flooding on Interstate 90, including the westbound lane near Cyr late last week. As temperatures climbed into the 30s and 40s over the weekend, Mineral County residents have been shoveling late-winter snow from their rooftops and other areas of where melting snow may be a concern.
Crews in town have been busy clearing snow. Last week in Alberton, crews worked on the main road through town, Railroad, scooping up piles of snow and hauling it west of town. This was to prevent flooding on the narrow street.
Maintenance Supervisor Rodney Goins in Superior said his crew was out late last week checking drains for ice and getting them cleared out as the snow began to melt. Generally, they don’t do snow removal, “as long as it’s a slow melt, there shouldn’t be any problems,” he said. There also hasn’t been any issues with roofs collapsing or any other snow-related issues facing the department at this point.
“Most residents have been around for a long time and they know what to expect and what to do,” he said. “They’ve been getting the snow off their roofs and taking care of things.”
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are about normal for this time of year. However, melting of low-elevation snow pack could make ponding of water a concern.