The weather is predicted to be cooler than normal over the next several weeks, and that's keeping the flood risk in the Red River Valley elevated, forecasters said.
Relatively little snowmelt is expected through March and early April, and that means April showers could join a later melt to raise the flood risk, said Greg Gust, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Forks, N.D.
"The outlook does have us cooler for the next few weeks, so we're not likely to see much melt and runoff," he said. "The spring flood, rather than starting in late March, it's probably going to be early April. That leads to more exposure to spring rain events."
Gust also said the ground was very saturated in the fall, adding additional moisture to the spring mix and preventing the snowmelt from soaking in.
The main risk areas are north of the twin towns of Breckenridge, Minn., and Wahpeton, N.D., Gust said. In the Fargo-Moorhead area, officials actually lowered their crest prediction from 39 feet to 38 feet. That may not sound like much, but it could mean 200,000 fewer sandbags to fill.
John Reinan
MONTEVIDEO
City supports planned loop trail
The Montevideo City Council has given its support to a proposed loop trail at Lake Snoopy. The council voted to support the recreational trail plan at a meeting this month.
The council's action is an important step in gathering support for the proposed trail, which could lead to funding through a state bonding bill, according to the Minnesota Trails Initiative, which is spearheading the project.
