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Manitoba issues flood risk update

Apr. 4, 2014 - Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation's Hydrologic Forecast Centre has issued an update regarding flows and levels in the Red River Valley and the Winnipeg River Basin as a result of significant snowfall in those areas including recent storms in North Dakota and Minnesota. The update reports:

Red River

* The flood risk on the Red River south of Winnipeg is approaching the predicted unfavourable weather scenario as indicated in the province's March 31 flood outlook. Unfavourable weather conditions could result in minor to moderate flooding. As indicated in the March outlook, river levels from Emerson to Winnipeg could be slightly higher than levels observed in 2008 and 2012.

* Unless a major storm occurs in the coming few weeks, the forecast indicates PTH 75 will not be closed and the Red River Floodway will not be operated. However, there is a 10 per cent chance that the Red River flows will exceed the forecast unfavourable condition. Under such rare conditions, there is a possibility that the floodway will be operated.

* Minor flooding is expected to occur on small tributaries such as the La Salle, Rat and Morris rivers, and Buffalo Creek.

* There is sufficient community protection within the Red River Basin as community dike elevations are higher than the predicted water levels.

* Based on Environment Canada's long-range weather forecast, precipitation on the Red River Basin will remain near normal. The U.S. National Weather Service also forecasts no major storms in the Red River Basin.

* The flood potential on the Red River is trending to the unfavourable weather scenario due to recent snow storms, which contributed substantially to U.S. snowpack. Some locations recorded a snow-water equivalent of 40 millimetres (mm) between March 30 and April 2.

Winnipeg River

* The flood risk on the Winnipeg River Basin is approaching the predicted unfavourable weather scenario as indicated in the province's March 31 flood outlook. Unfavourable weather conditions and major future storms could result in moderate to major flooding in the basin.

* In the recent snow storm, some locations in Ontario and the Lake of the Woods areas recorded a snow-water equivalent of 50 mm between March 30 and April 02.

* Based on Environment Canada's long-range weather forecast, precipitation on the Winnipeg River Basin will remain near normal.

April 4, 2014  By MAFRD