Risk of spring flooding in Manitoba remains moderate to major: province

The province is still at risk of major flooding this spring, according to the Manitoba government.

Infrastructure Minister, Blaine Pedersen released the province’s first spring flood forecast Monday. He said the risk of overland flooding this spring remains moderate to major.

“The magnitude of spring flooding is still very dependent on weather until the spring melt,” Pedersen said.

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“The flood potential is significantly affected by the amount of additional snow and spring rain, frost depth at the time of run off, the timing and rate of the spring flaw and the timing of peak flows in Manitoba, U.S. and other provinces,” he said.

In January, the government released an early flood forecast stating the wet winter could cause major overland flooding in the spring.

RELATED: Manitoba at risk of major overland flooding: province

Areas at risk of major flooding include: the Red, Souris, Pembina, lower Assiniboine and Roseau rivers and the Whiteshell lakes area.

The overland flooding risk is moderate in the Interlake region, along the upper Assiniboine River and the northern part of the province.

The province said the water flows are similar to 2011 levels, which means Highway 75 could be temporarily closed in the spring.