Red River crests at Emerson, Overland Flood Watch issued with wet week in forecast

On Overland Flood Watch has been issued for all of Southern and Central Manitoba as forecasters continue to monitor a series of precipitation systems starting today that could bring as much as 60 millimetres (mm) of rain to the region over the next five days. Rain amounts of more than 60 mm are possible in some localized areas.

In its daily flood bulletin, Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure noted most ditches and waterways are either full or near capacity. Heavy rain occurring over a short period on saturated soil could create overland flooding. Water level forecasts will be updated to determine impacts from this precipitation on areas that are already experiencing flooding.

A flood warning remains in place for most parts of the Red River north of Emerson (except Winnipeg), La Salle near Sanford, the Pembina, Boyne, Morris and Little Morris rivers and the Deadhorse.

The Red River has now crested at Emerson, and was about two inches below 2009 levels. The Red is near crest at Letellier and St. Jean. Locations in the Red River valley are expected to peak by May 13th, at levels between 2011 and 2009 spring flood levels.

The Red River has seen the following changes since Sunday:

dropped two inches at Emerson to 790.59 feet
risen less than one inch at Letellier to 784.85 feet
risen two inches at St. Jean to 782.01 feet
risen one inch at Morris to 780.28 feet
risen one inch at Ste. Agathe to 771.70 feet
risen one inch at St. Adolphe to 767.49 feet

Map courtesy Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure

States of local emergency have been declared in the following 26 communities:
Town of Arborg;
Rural Municipality (RM) of Armstrong;
Municipality of Bifrost-Riverton;
RM of Cartier;
RM of Coldwell;
RM of Dufferin;
Municipality of Emerson-Franklin;
RM of Fisher;
RM of Grahamdale;
RM of Grey;
RM of Gimli:
RM of Headingley;
RM of Macdonald;
RM of Montcalm;
City of Morden;
RM of Morris;
Municipality of Norfolk Treherne;
Municipality of Pembina;
RM of Rhineland;
RM of Ritchot;
RM of St. Laurent;
RM of Thompson;
RM of West Interlake;
RM of Whitemouth;
Town of Winnipeg Beach; and
RM of Woodlands