Province warns Red River at high risk of flooding

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This article was published 17/03/2022 (1500 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Red River and its tributaries are at high risk of major flooding this spring, the province says in its March flood outlook.

Above-normal to record-high precipitation in parts of the Red River Basin in the United States and southeastern Manitoba have elevated flood risk throughout the region.

Soil moisture in the area is normal to above normal throughout the area, the provincial report Thursday says, which affects the amount of runoff the soil can absorb.

The degree to which the Red River and others in the province will flood still depends on weather conditions in the lead-up to spring thaw.

“The runoff potential is significantly affected by the amount of additional snow and spring rains; frost depth at the time of runoff; the timing and rate of the spring thaw; and the timing of peak flows in Manitoba, the United States, Saskatchewan and Ontario,” according to a news release.

A late thaw and rainstorms could cause rapid snow melt leading to increased flooding.

Even in favourable weather conditions, the province lists the risk of flooding as “major,” saying levels would be similar to spring peak levels in 2019 from Emerson to the Red River Floodway inlet.

Normal or unfavourable weather would elevate the risk even further.

However, community dikes and “individual flood protection works within the Red River Basin” are still expected to be higher than peak flooding levels, even in an unfavourable weather scenario, the province says.

The report comes as no surprise to Ralph Groening, reeve of the Rural Municipality of Morris.

“We’re having a council meeting (Friday) with our emergency co-ordinator to begin to define how we might, could and should respond,” he said, adding the RM is in good shape to deal with the level of flooding expected.

“After 2009, which was our last major event, we worked with the province of Manitoba. We collaborated with them to improve road access from both the east and west side.”

Roads were raised around communities in the region to ensure people can get in and out despite flooding. The RM also has several community dikes.

“Hopefully, residents aren’t worried,” Groening said. “We’ve worked, and we’ve done everything that we could. People that have been here more many years understand the challenge.

“For new residents, we want to reassure them that we understand how to respond to flood events.”

According to the province, there is also a high risk of minor to moderate flooding for the Assiniboine River and its tributaries, and in the eastern region of the province, including the Whiteshell area.

Flood risk is low in the Interlake and northern Manitoba regions, and most major lakes are below or near normal levels.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca