Low to moderate risk of spring flooding for most Manitoba rivers, lakes
Province warns risks depend on weather conditions during post-winter thaw
Most Manitoba rivers and lakes are at a moderate to low risk of flooding this spring, according to the province's hydrologic forecast centre.
Flood risks are expected to remain in the low to moderate range, according to a provincial flood outlook report published Tuesday, but risks may vary depending on weather conditions during the post-winter thaw.
The centre expects lakes to be within their "desired operating ranges" after the spring runoff, with a low flood risk in the surrounding areas.
Some rivers in the province's southwestern and Interlake regions have a moderate risk of flooding, the centre says, including the Assiniboine River from Russell to Brandon. The flood risk is also moderate for the Souris, Qu'Appelle, Fisher and Icelandic rivers, the province says.
The flood risk is currently low for the Red, Pembina, Rat, Roseau, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Churchill, Carrot and Swan rivers, and for the Whiteshell Lakes area.
The province says ice-cutting and ice-breaking work on the Red and Icelandic rivers is done. Work will be conducted along Fisher River this week.
The forecast centre is watching a system that could bring up to 15 centimetres of snow to central and southern Manitoba basins this weekend, but the effect of that snowfall has been factored into the current flood outlook.
The province also warns that warmer temperatures bring weaker ice, it cautions people to stay off rivers, retention ponds and other bodies of water as they thaw.