May 18, 2004
The weather forecast calls for 15 mm of rain in the Winnipeg area and up to 30 mm near the U.S. boundary tomorrow.
If this rain falls as predicted, it will produce significant run-off in the Red River Valley where soil moisture is very high due to recent snow-melt and rain.
Peak stages on the Red River may need to be revised upward by several feet if this rain occurs and peak stages on the Roseau River may be somewhat higher as well.
Red River
Levels of the Red River from Emerson to St. Adolphe rose close to 1.5 feet in the two-hour period ending this morning. Levels in the City of Winnipeg rose close to one foot.
The total rise so far for this event is 16. 5 feet at Emerson, eight feet in the St. Norbert area and five feet in downtown Winnipeg.
Additional rises of one to two feet are expected in areas from Emerson to St. Norbert even without tomorrow’s rain.
An additional rise of about one foot is expected in the City of Winnipeg without rain.
Roseau River
Levels of the Roseau River have changed very little in the past 24 hours, but rises from water in the U.S. are still to come.
Souris River
Levels on the Souris River will rise somewhat in the next few days as more water is released from wildlife refuges in North Dakota. Rises of several feet are expected in the Coulter area.
Other Streams
Tomorrow’s rain has the potential to raise flows and levels on many smaller streams in southern Manitoba, particularly tributaries of the Red River and streams further east to the Ontario boundary. Minor flooding of low-lying areas cannot be ruled out if this rain falls as predicted.
- 30 -
RETURN