Late winter snows and the potential of a quick, delayed warmup have elevated the possibility of significant flooding in the Red River Valley.

In an update Thursday, the Grand Forks office of the National Weather Service indicated there is a better than 75 percent chance that Fargo could see flooding that would rank among its 10 worst. The Red River of the North saw a record flood in 2009.

Overland flooding, which could affect Interstate Hwy. 29 in North Dakota, is expected. In the lakes region of Minnesota around Fergus Falls and Alexandria, lakes and wetlands are likely to jump their banks, causing some road and bridge closures.

BILL MCAULIFFE