Don’t be alarmed by flooding in Fargo, say Manitoba forecasters

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/03/2009 (6369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The chances of a 1997-level flood in southern Manitoba are more remote now than they were a few weeks ago — despite reports of record water levels at Fargo, N.D., provincial officials said this afternoon.

The province had previously pegged the likelihood of a flood like 1997’s "flood of the century" at somewhat lower than 10 per cent.

But Steve Topping, a senior Water Stewardship Department official, said today that the odds of a 1997 flood are now "well below" 10 per cent.

Flood forecaster Alf Warkentin said Manitobans shouldn’t be too alarmed by the bad news emanating from Fargo. Most of the water coming to Manitoba is drawn from an area north of the North Dakota city, he said.

Meanwhile, however, officials are still worrying about possible ice jams within the city of Winnipeg. They’re hoping that the ice clears soon so they will be able to operate the floodway.

River levels in the city could reach 20.5 feet James — a measure indicating height above historic winter ice levels in downtown Winnipeg — as early as April 3 if the ice hasn’t moved out of the city and officials aren’t able to raise the floodway gates, Warkentin said.

Wednesday afternoon, the Red River in Winnipeg at James Avenue was at 16.88 feet James, which is more than seven feet below the 1997 flood level of 24.5 feet.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca