May 29, 2006

Manitoba Water Stewardship’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre has issued a flood warning for the Fisher River in the Interlake region due to 125 mm of rainfall over the past 48 hours.

Flash flooding has been reported in many portions of the watershed including water overflowing drains and some roads. Initial reports indicate that the heaviest rain fell along a line from west of Broad Valley up to the communities of Fisher Branch and Hodgson as the rain cells moved from south to north.

Some homes at Fisher Branch have sustained basement flooding and it is possible that some rural homes may experience flooding.

Extensive on-farm flooding will continue today with ditches running full and overflowing in many areas. Some larger drains will continue to rise until late today or tomorrow and may overflow, slowing drainage from fields. 

The Fisher River is already significantly higher than this year’s spring crest and may exceed 2004 levels when significant diking was required at the Peguis townsite. The peak stage at Peguis First Nation is expected to occur sometime tomorrow or Wednesday. A more specific forecast will be issued later this afternoon when more data becomes available. The Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization and the Manitoba Association of Native Fire Fighters are assisting with the flood-fighting effort. A power outage at Peguis Reserve from 4 to 9 a.m. this morning impeded pumping and created other difficulties.

At Fisher Branch, lift stations are being operated to reduce flooding and prevent sewer backup. The RM of Fisher is blocking off washed-out roads and assisting with drainage and pumping.

Both rural and town residents are advised to move valuables to higher ground if they have not already done so.

Heavy rain also fell in some other portions of the Interlake, Westlake regions and east of Lake Winnipeg in the past 48 hours. Localized flooding is possible in areas which may have received in excess of 75 mm of rain.

The weather forecast calls for little or no additional rain in the next few days.

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