Manitoba Water Stewardship has issued a flood advisory for southeast Manitoba. This includes the Red River Valley, the Interlake, the Whiteshell and areas east of Lake Winnipeg.
A major rainstorm has brought 50 to 100 millimetres (two to four inches) of rain to most of southeast Manitoba and adjacent areas of North Dakota and Minnesota during the past few days. The areas hardest hit in Manitoba were the eastern tributaries of the Red River, the eastern portion of the southern Interlake and areas near the Ontario boundary from the Whiteshell to near Berens River. Western portions of the Red River Valley received 40 to 65 mm (1.6 to 2.6 in.). Most areas south of Grand Forks received only about 25 mm (one in.) from this storm.
Overland flooding has developed in the areas east of the Red River, the eastern Interlake and areas east of Lake Winnipeg. A few homes are reported to be surrounded by water and some smaller roads are overtopped. Overland flooding will be at its worst today and tomorrow and may have already subsided in some areas.
Smaller streams in the heavy rain area have risen rapidly since Saturday morning with rises of 1.5 to 2.5 metres (five to eight feet) or more on streams such as the Main Drain near Dominion City, Joubert Creek near St. Pierre-Jolys, Seine River near Prairie Grove and Manning Canal near Isle des Chênes. Levels on the Seine River at Ste. Anne, the Pansy Drain near Sarto and portions of Tourond Creek were higher this morning than crests observed this spring. Many small streams had already crested as on noon today. Larger streams such as the Roseau, Rat, Brokenhead and Fisher rivers will crest later day or tomorrow. Streams east of Lake Winnipeg such as the Manigotagan, Black and Wanipigow rivers will crest late this week.
Streams are expected to remain generally within their banks but may flood some areas where the banks are low. It is unlikely that villages or homes will be flooded due to high river levels, but some may be surrounded by water from overland flow.
Many lakes in the Interlake were already at record high levels and will rise even further due to the rain. River and lake levels in eastern Manitoba from the Whiteshell area to Little Grand Rapids will be unusually high and could exceed flood stage, especially in the Nopiming and Atikaki Park provincial parks. Dams on controlled lakes in the Whiteshell will be opened to reduce water levels. Cottage owners and others are advised to check their properties and to take appropriate actions to reduce damages.
Levels of the Red and Winnipeg rivers are expected to rise significantly due to the rain. A crest of 4.6 m (15 ft.) is expected at James Avenue in downtown Winnipeg next weekend. As of this morning, the Red River had already risen three m (10 ft.) at Emerson, 2.1 m (6.9 ft.) at Ste. Agathe and 1.1 m (3.7 ft.) in downtown Winnipeg since last weekend. Some of these rises were due to heavy rain in the Fargo area a week ago. Additional rises expected due to the rain range from three m (10 ft.) at Emerson to 2.1 m (seven ft.) at Ste. Agathe and 1.4 m (4.5 ft.) at James Avenue in Winnipeg. The river will remain well within its banks but the high levels will cause difficulties for recreation interests in Winnipeg and will disrupt boat traffic through Lockport.
The level of the Winnipeg River at has risen to its highest point so far this year and stood at 276.4 m (906.9 ft.) this morning, about 1.7 m (5.5 ft.) higher than the normal summer level. The river is expected to rise a further 0.15 to 0.3 m (0.5 to one ft.) during the next two weeks
Strong northerly winds yesterday and today are causing high wind set-up and strong wave action on Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba. The level of Lake Winnipeg at Victoria Beach and at Gimli this morning had risen to 218.8 m (718 ft.). Shoreline erosion is taking place but flooding of developments is not expected. Winds are expected to abate this evening.
