Western Montana has experienced a couple days of brutal couple temperatures. Monday morning lows dropped between 5 to nearly 40 degrees below zero. Some locations in southwest Montana never warmed above zero degrees both Sunday and Monday.

Not only does this level of cold impact people and animals, it also creates impacts on area rivers. Sections of the Clark Fork River are almost completely frozen or blocked by ice, with only narrow channels allowing water to freely flow.

Other rivers in western Montana are experiencing similar conditions.

This is second time this winter the Clark Fork has frozen like this. The first occurred during the historic cold outbreak that took place in late December. Temperatures in that event were colder in most communities compared to this recent cold snap. Temperatures then warmed to close out the year, allowing the river to thaw and return to normal flow levels.

This process of thawing and refreezing is likely to continue occurring through the winter heading into spring.

We will have to keep a close eye on the amount of ice on our rivers. As temperatures rise, ice jams could develop and lead to increased river flooding concerns across western Montana.