GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KFGO) – The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has released the first spring flood outlook for the Red River Basin.
Meteorologist Greg Gust said based on mid-winter conditions there’s a moderate to “somewhat” high possibility for significant snowmelt flooding across the region.
“If there was something called an average spring or an average runoff, we would be just slightly above that so that’s not as bad as 2019, our last big flood coming across the south basin.”
Gust said the drought, eased by fall rains still has some holding capacity in the soil so if there is a “gentle thaw,” it will help alleviate any flooding concerns. But he said there will be problems if there’s an abrupt and harsh melt, along with rain.
According to the early outlook, the Red River in Fargo has a 95% chance of reaching 21.9 feet, a 75% chance of 39 feet, and a 5% chance of 50 feet. Minor flooding begins at 18 feet. Fargo’s record crest was nearly 41 feet, hit in 2019.
1/28/22 donthomas
