News - Flooding

A number of communities are in the midst of flood-fighting efforts across southern Manitoba to deal with flooding from the Red and Assiniboine rivers, local tributaries and overland flooding.

Based on the latest Environment Canada reports, most of southern Manitoba will receive only five millimetres (0.2 inches) of rain or less during the rest of this week.

Frozen culverts and drains are causing flooding in locations that have never experienced flooding before.

Due to rain and higher tributary flows, the Red River is now expected to reach 1979 levels in much of the Red River Valley from Letellier to the floodway inlet.

Provincial disaster financial assistance (DFA) is available to deal with the damage from this year’s spring flooding, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Steve Ashton, minister responsible for emergency measures, announced.

Showers are expected today with amounts of five millimetres likely. Rain is forecasted for Thursday with significant amounts possible.

Starting at 5:30 p.m. yesterday and overnight, adjustments were made to lower the floodway gates to switch over from operating with ice-influenced natural levels to operating with open water natural levels.

Showers expected tomorrow with five to 10 millimetres likely. The rain may slightly add to overland flooding and river levels, but this is not expected to be significant.

Showers are predicted in southwest Manitoba on Sunday and southeast Manitoba on Monday. Rainfall amounts of about 0.4 inch (10 millimetres) are expected.

Showers are expected on Easter Sunday and Monday. Fast melting is expected this weekend. Snow and ice on fields in the Red River Valley should be melted this weekend and most of the snow in western Manitoba should also be melted by Monday.