Big Horn Sheriff’s Office Warns Of Ice Dams, Breakups And Flooding Along Big Horn River

Spring-time is just about here on the calendar and signs are starting to show on one major waterway on the west side of the Big Horn Mountains.

The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office is advising residents and travelers that the ice along the Big Horn River is starting to break-up.

The area they are referring to is from the Big Horn County/Washakie County border line northward to Manderson, Greybull and to the Yellowtail Habitat area near Lovell.

Ice jams and low-level flooding have already been reported in those areas, but the situation can change rapidly.

As jams break up downstream, the flow will encounter bottlenecks and additional jams will then create dams blocking the inflow water stream, creating localized flooding.

When ice jams are created, flooding rapidly occurs and can be dangerous to livestock, equipment, and human safety.

Residents are asked to practice extra caution and safety and consider moving livestock and equipment to higher elevations to ensure safety of property.

Rapidly changing conditions are largely dependent on the weather and water flows coming from upstream.

The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office says it expects the situation will remain touch and go for up to 1 week.

Everyone is asked to be careful when traveling, recreating, or working near low-lying areas next to the Big Horn River, because the situation can go from no risk, to rapid flash flooding in a matter of minutes.