NWS Issues Flood Outlook - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

NWS Issues Flood Outlook

There's more news about the spring's flood potential for the region tonight.

Yesterday, we heard from the International Souris River Board that the river basin had average to below average moisture right now.

Today, the National Weather Service issued its newest flood outlook of the spring season, putting some numbers to the flood forecast.

Hydrologist Alan Schlag of the Bismarck office of the NWS says data on the river basin indicate the heaviest snow pack in the system is above the Rafferty and Alameda Dams in southern Saskatchewan, and those dams have plenty of room for storage.

He says snow pack diminishes south of the border along the river until the Towner and Willow Creek areas, where there is a significant amount of snow.

He also notes that the soil in the region is dry and will be able to absorb a substantial amount of the spring melt.

Today's report puts the chances that the Mouse River will exceed minor flood stage in Minot at 8%, although the chance of hitting minor flood stage in Towner is over 95%. On Willow Creek, the chance of exceeding minor flood stage is estimated at 67%.

As for the weather forecast over the next few months, Schlag says there is no indication of a repeat of the very wet spring of 2011 that led to record flooding that year.