Red River not expected to crest until second week of May
The forecast shows little to no precipitation is expected in southern and central Manitoba for the next 5 days which is a relief to many communities dealing with flooding issues.
The Red River Basin has received a basin-wide average of 40-50 mm of rainfall over the past 48 hours, according to today’s flood report issued by Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure. It indicates that areas of the Interlake and east of Lake Winnipeg received an average of 30-50 mm.
Red River crest is coming
More dike closures as Red River keeps rising
Precipitation continues to fall in many areas of southern Manitoba and rivers are filling up.
Here is the latest information from Manitoba's Hydrologic Forecast Centre for Saturday, April 30th, 2022.
Flood warning:
-Red River, Emerson to the Red River Floodway Channel Inlet
- La Salle River
- Assiniboine River, from St. Lazare to Brandon
- Pembina River
- Fisher River
Flood watch:
Red River Tributaries
- Roseau River
- Whitemud River
- Icelandic River
Rainfall warning continues, Highway 75 is closed
Rain continues today as the third major low-pressure system in as many weeks impacts southern Manitoba, closing Highway 75.
Rain will continue to lift northwards through the province today, bringing an additional 10 to 25 mm over southern regions and a further 20 to 40 mm to northern Interlake regions over the next 24 hours.
Rain may transition to wet snow early Sunday morning as surface temperatures cool to near freezing. The rain/wet snow mix will taper off from west to east on Sunday.
Warnings
Flood warning for Red River Valley, overland flood warning continues for southern Manitoba
Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre has issued a flood warning for the Red River Valley from Emerson to the Red River Floodway inlet just south of the city of Winnipeg.
An overland flood warning continues for southern Manitoba from the Saskatchewan border eastward to Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 12 and from the United States border northwards to PTH 1, extending north of PTH 1 between PTH 5 and PTH 16, and north of PTH 1 between Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg.
Current storm system compares closely to 'Storm of the Century'
The winter storm is mostly playing out the way Environment Canada is expecting it to, except for a slight delay last night in the arrival of storm conditions to reach southern Manitoba.
Natalie Hasell, warning preparedness meteorologist, notes snowfall amounts will be the highest west of Winnipeg and added there is also a slight change to the conditions that can be expected in the Southeast.
Red River crest reaches Winnipeg
The crest on the Red River is passing through Winnipeg today although the operation of the Red River Floodway will keep water levels relatively stable.
Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) says Flood warnings continue for a few locations along the Red River; St. Jean to Morris, in the vicinity of St. Adolphe, Selkirk and locations downstream due to ice jamming. A flood watch remains for all other areas on the Red River from Emerson to the Red River Floodway. There is a risk of moderate flooding in these areas.
Red River might crest twice due to rain next week
A weather system is expected to bring 15-20mm (about 0.79 in) precipitation across much of southern Manitoba this week.
According to Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI), this could result in a higher crest or a second crest at some locations on the Red River, depending on the amount of precipitation received.
MTI reports the Red River remains near its crest at Drayton, North Dakota. The forecast for the Red River in Manitoba is under review and will be updated later on the flood sheets and hydrographs.