Low to moderate risk of Manitoba spring flooding
Ice-cutting, breaking continues on Red, Icelandic Rivers
An aerial file photo of flooding in the Red River Valley near Rosenort, Man. in May 2022. (Manitoba Co-operator photo by Allan Dawson)
Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm – Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre reported a low-to-moderate risk of spring flooding in the province on March 25, days before a weather system brings snowfall to much of the province.
The centre anticipates most lakes to be within their desired operating ranges after the spring runoff with the risk of flooding from lakes to be low. Areas where there is a moderate risk of flooding are the Assiniboine River from Russell to Brandon, the Souris River, the Qu’Appelle River, the Fisher River and the Icelandic River. A minor flood risk was reported for the Red, Pembina, Rat, Roseau, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Churchill, Carrot and Swan Rivers, as well as the Whiteshell Lakes area.
The Shellmouth Dam is currently in operation to provide storage capacity for reservoir inflows to reduce flooding downstream as well as ensure sufficient reservoir water levels. Minimal operations of the Red River Floodway and the Portage Diversion may be needed to reduce flood risks. Ice-cutting and breaking activities are being completed on the Red and Icelandic Rivers, with the Fisher River to be worked on this week.
Most central and southern Manitoba basins will see up to 15 centimetres of snow later over the weekend, the effects of which were inputted into the province’s flood forecast.
Daily temperatures are warming gradually and ice thickness continues to deteriorate. People are advised to stay off waterways, rivers and retention ponds.
