Levels of spring flooding will be dependent on future weather conditions as the first 2017 flood outlook suggests the risk of moderate to major flooding persists in many areas of the province, Infrastructure Minister Blaine Pedersen announced today.

The current forecast models suggest:
- the Red, Souris, Pembina, Roseau and Lower Assiniboine rivers and the Whiteshell Lakes areas are at major risk of flooding;
- the overland flooding risk is moderate in the Interlake region, along the upper Assiniboine River and the northern portion of the province including the Saskatchewan River; and
- major lakes remain a concern and current river flows and other lake levels are normal to above normal for this time of year.

The minister said the province continues to assess data as it immediately begins work on the second and final flood outlook scheduled for release in late March.

The mid-February early melt which occurred in the southern portion of the Red River Basin has diminished most of the snowpack south of Grand Forks, N.D. This has slightly reduced the potential for flood flows on the Red River in Manitoba, but it has also left the soil saturated and prone to high run-off volumes from future precipitation. Future precipitation, the timing and how fast snow melts and the timing of run-off in Manitoba, the U.S., Saskatchewan and Ontario are still key factors. 

Conditions in the Souris River basin, will affect the lower Assiniboine River in western Manitoba.

The Manitoba government and municipalities are continuing to prepare for spring flooding. This includes working with municipal emergency management teams to review existing emergency response plans and sharing information through conference calls and flood information seminars in Morris, Brandon and Selkirk, the minister added.