Dear Nebraska: Sorry about water, but more on the way. Love, Montana

[Fledermaus]

The flood begins higher up, at places like Dark Horse Lake in the Bitterroots, where another 2 inches of snow fell late this week, landing on the 8 feet still on the ground.

And when hot weather finally reaches those upper elevations -- starting next month -- all of that snow will melt and flow and become, eventually, the floodwaters threatening Sioux City and Omaha and Plattsmouth and so many other river towns downstream.............

Those downstream states have more than enough water now. But so does Montana.

"People who have been here 50 years, 70 years, say they haven't seen anything like this," Gay said. "All small streams, creeks are full. There are towns that are flooded and cut off. And there's a lot of water to come."

The snow-water equivalent in some areas is 400 percent; meaning, snow that usually is 2 feet deep this time of year is 8 feet, something that happens maybe once every 50 years, Brusda said.

And as the snow-fed Missouri crosses Montana, it's collecting record rainfall, too. Some areas received 10 inches in three weeks; 3 inches fell on a town in northeast Montana between Thursday and Friday.

The rain is expected to continue through the weekend. An even stronger storm system could surface next week.

http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/article_0dcb3ea6-3091-56c8-afcc-2a2476b9ed5b.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Ro roh....that is not good news for the nuclear plant in Neb.

[aquart]

2. Just what I was thinking.

[progressoid]

7. Actually, the plant isn't even operating now.

They shut it down in April for refueling and won't start it up again until after the river recedes.

[newfie11]

3. thanks for sharing Montana

I have to say here in western NE panhandle our problem is from WY.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. It is all Cheney's fault!!!!!

[newfie11]

5. yes!!

[Voice for Peace]

6. if they can build oil pipelines from alaska to wherever

why can't they move water from the places where there is too much, to the places where there is severe drought?

[IDemo]

8. Not exactly correct on the snow-water equivalent

Eight feet versus two would be correct if all snow contained the same amount of water, but it doesn't. It refers to the water level that would be seen if a snowpack were melted simultaneously. Dry powder may have a snow water density of only 5%, whereas a heavy wet spring snow may be around 50%. If they have 400 percent of a normal SWE year, that's a massive amount of water to come with rivers already at or near flood stage.