NWS: Major Flooding Along Red River Very Likely This Spring

According to the National Weather Service, current spring flood outlooks indicate that most of the mainstem Red River also has a similar risk of major spring flooding, as was seen there

in advance of the 2006, 2009 and 2010 major flood events, but still a 10 percent risk of experiencing the record levels which occurred back in 1997.

As in 2009 and 2010, the northern basin has substantially lower snow amount and snow-water

equivalent (SWE) amounts than in southern (Fargo) or western (Devils Lake) areas. Snowfall

amounts in the north are running only slightly above normal for the current winter, but they are

also higher than last year’s amounts.

- Likewise, summer-fall rainfall amounts were 5-8 inches above normal, but lower than southern

basin amounts. Thus base stream flows are currently high, but generally not at record levels.

- With higher base streamflows and snow amount than in 2010, most tributaries in the northern

valley have a higher risk than last year of at least moderate flooding… especially the Roseau,

Red Lake, and Pembina Rivers.

Tags: flooding outlook, flood, updates