Flood warning issued for part of Assiniboine River
A flood warning has been issued for the Assiniboine River near the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border.
In its latest flood bulletin, the Manitoba government said the flood warning applies to areas along the Assiniboine from Millwood, located near the border, to Virden.
Communities along the river from Virden to Brandon are now under a flood watch, as well as communities near the Whitemud River.
Flooding in those areas is expected to primarily affect agricultural land, according to the bulletin.
The province also says a high water advisory is in effect for the Assiniboine below the Portage Diversion, between Portage la Prairie and Headingley, due to a higher risk of ice jams.
Meanwhile, high water advisories continue to be in effect for streams in the Parkland region, from the Duck Mountains to Gladstone, the Pembina River, the Swan River and its tributaries, and smaller tributaries and drains in southeast and south-central Manitoba.
At least 11 rural families in the Rural Municipality of Montcalm have been warned to consider leaving their homes as a precaution due to flood-related road access issues. Only one family has left so far, according to the province.
The rural municipalities of Cornwallis, Cameron and Whitewater and declared states of local emergency.
Roads cut in Cornwallis
Overland flooding caused tense moments late Monday night in the RM of Cornwallis, located just outside of Brandon.
The municipality was forced to cut two roads overnight to release ground water, said Reeve Reg Atkinson.
"We cut one to save a couple of homes, and we cut another one because the water was going to cut it anyway," he told CBC News on Tuesday.
"So we kind of made a controlled cut … we cut 30 feet instead of the road washing out 300 feet."
Atkinson said while conditions are improving on Tuesday, the washed-out roads are creating lengthy detours for some residents.
Atkinson said he has issued a local state of emergency in his municipality so officials can close flooded roads and prevent people from travelling through deep water.