Flash Flood Watch Issued For Daly Fire Burn Scar Area

A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for the portion of Western Montana and the Sapphire Mountains, specifically the Daly Fire burn scar. Heavy rainfall at times this afternoon may trigger flash floods.

Montana map - flash flood watch area

The concern are the mountain that flank Highway 93 and the Bitterroot River south of Missoula. Wildfire burn scars do not hold water as a normal forested area, so vast amounts of water would immediately flow downhill.

The Daly Fire of 2024 was located 15 miles SE Hamilton, MT and burned in Granite & Ravalli Counties. Over 11,000 acres burned in total.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE DALY FIRE BURN SCAR IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM THURSDAY EVENING.
WHAT...Flash flooding and debris flows caused by excessive rainfall are possible over the Daly Fire burn scar.
WHERE...A portion of west central Montana, including the following area, Sapphire Mountains.
WHEN...Until 8 PM Thursday evening.
IMPACTS...Heavy rainfall over the Daly Fire burn scar is possible up to and during the period of the watch late this afternoon and evening.
Travelers along Highway 38 to Skalkaho Pass near the Daly Fire burn scar should prepare for potential flooding impacts.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS... Thunderstorms will continue to develop with the potential for heavy rainfall over the Daly Fire burn scar, which may lead to flash flooding and debris flows.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.