There are flood warnings for the Pembina River downstream of La Rivière, the Souris River from the U.S.-Canadian Border and downstream, and the Qu’Appelle River in the St-Lazare area.
There are flood watches for the Assiniboine River downstream of Russell to Portage la Prairie and for the Fisher River.
There are high-water advisories for Plum Creek between Oak Lake and the Souris River including the town of Souris and for the Whitemud River in the Gladstone area.
The Pembina River has crested at all locations in Manitoba.
The Red River is forecast to crest in Emerson between April 25 and 28.
The Souris River in Manitoba downstream of Melita is forecast to receive a second, prolonged crest this week in the Souris and Wawanesa areas. Melita water levels should crest within the next two days. The second crest is forecast to reach similar or slightly higher water levels than the first crest.
Water levels on Pelican Lake increased since yesterday by 0.06 ft. to 1,353.31 ft. and are forecast to continue increasing until April 23 to 27. They are predicted to stay below the flood stage of 1,354 ft. (wind eliminated).
Water levels on the Assiniboine River will steadily increase until the crest in late April or early May.
A further operation of the Fairford River water control structure will be implemented today due to the high level of Lake Manitoba. Outflows from Lake Manitoba will be increased from the current 10,460 cubic feet per second (cfs).
The floodway gates are expected to be operated today. Water levels south of the floodway inlet will remain below natural within the range of 761.15 ft. to 761.5 ft. today until the forecast peak flows occur between April 30 and May 4.
Flood Response
In Melita today, large flood-barrier tubes will be set up on top of the existing community clay dike to add additional freeboard for a crest on the Souris River. The community clay dike was constructed after the 2009 flood. Large cage-barrier dikes are also being set up along PTH 3 and PTH 83 as a secondary line of defence on a low area of the highway.
Work is progressing in St-Lazare to add an additional one foot on top of the lower portion of the community’s ring dike. Eight homes outside of the ring dike are being sandbagged to forecast levels. Other homes along the Qu’Appelle River are on higher ground and appear to be above projected flood levels.
Repairs are continuing on the Assiniboine River dikes between Poplar Point and the Baie St. Paul Bridge. Repairs are required because damage resulting from high-water levels caused by the ice jam and will likely take two to three days.
The number of evacuees from Peguis First Nation is now 622 people. This includes 43 students and 10 staff who are in Gimli to continue their Grade 12 studies.
Rising Red River levels and loss of safe road access has resulted in the evacuation of 29 people from the RM of Montcalm and 21 people from the RM of Ritchot. There are also 22 people evacuated from a number of communities and rural municipalities because of overland flooding affecting safe road access.
Closures at the railway crossings at Morris and Emerson will begin tomorrow to protect communities.
In The Pas, flood protection activities are ongoing. Five pump stations are in 24-hour operation in the Carrot River Valley, just southwest of The Pas. Two Amphibex machines have been staged to break ice on the Saskatchewan River downstream of Ralls Island. The Carrot River, Salt Channel and Pasquia River dikes extend over 73 kilometres in the vicinity of The Pas to the Saskatchewan border to protect over 57,000 hectares of agricultural and residential land in the Carrot River Valley and Pasquia Polder area.
Approximately 700 provincial staff are currently working on the flood response across southern Manitoba and in the The Pas area. In addition, there are municipal staff, private contractors and non-government agencies such as the Salvation Army, Mennonite Disaster Services and the Red Cross working on flood-fighting efforts throughout the province.
There are currently 763 Manitobans evacuated from their homes. To date, 32 municipalities have declared states of local emergency.
There are 78 provincial roads affected by flooding including 55 which are now fully closed. There are also approximately 500 municipal roads closed.
Red River
The upper level of the forecast range for the Red River remains somewhat above 2009 levels for most points on the river.
Water levels on the main stem of the Red River at Emerson increased 0.75 ft. since yesterday. Water levels are now approximately five ft. above flood stage but remain below top-dike elevations. Flows at Emerson this morning were 62,000 cfs. Flows at Emerson are expected to crest April 25 to 28.
Water levels just south of the Red River Floodway inlet are 761.15 ft., with flows of 61,000 cfs. Flows in the floodway are approximately 24,000 cfs.
Water levels at James Avenue in Winnipeg increased 0.34 ft. since yesterday to 19.06 ft. Flows at James Avenue this morning are approximately 54,500 cfs.
Assiniboine River
Water levels on the Assiniboine River near St-Lazare are forecast to reach 1,288.2 ft. The river is forecast to peak April 21 to 24 and flows could reach record flood levels.
The revised forecast for the Assiniboine River predicts slightly higher flows from St-Lazare to Brandon. Forecasters are revising predicted inflows from the Souris River to assess impacts downstream of Brandon.
Water levels at Baie St. Paul decreased as much as 6.68 ft. since yesterday.
Flow water levels on the Assiniboine River near St-Lazare are forecast to reach 1,288.2 ft. Flows on the Portage Diversion channel this morning were at 18,100 cfs and flows on the Assiniboine River downstream of the diversion were approximately 6,700 cfs. Inflow upstream of Portage la Prairie is 24,800 cfs.
Water levels in the Shellmouth Reservoir have increased 1.67 ft. since yesterday to 1,392.1 ft. Shellmouth inflow is 9,200 cfs and outflow from the reservoir is 500 cfs.
Pembina River
Water levels on Pelican Lake have increased since yesterday by 0.06 ft. to a level of 1,353.31 ft. and are forecast to continue increasing until April 23 to 27 but are predicted to stay below the flood stage of 1,354 ft. (wind eliminated).
Pelican Lake levels have exceeded 1,352.7 ft. and, as required in the operating rules in the Environment Act licence, the outlet is in operation to allow maximum outflow from the lake.
Levels on Rock Lake have decreased 0.24 ft. since yesterday.
Souris River
The Souris River at Westhope, N.D., near the Canadian border has exceeded record water levels. This does not necessarily mean record water levels will occur on the Canadian portion of the river because the peak of the tributaries flows on the Canadian side occurred earlier and so the tributaries will add less to the current river flows.
The Souris River continues to go over its banks at several locations. Since yesterday, water levels on the Souris River have increased 0.39 ft., 0.92 ft. and 0.46 ft. at Melita, Souris and Wawanesa, respectively.
Northern Rivers and Lakes
Water levels on the Saskatchewan and Carrot rivers at The Pas have increased approximately 0.6 ft. since yesterday.
The Carrot River, Salt Channel and Pasquia River dikes extend over 73 km in the vicinity of The Pas and reach the Saskatchewan border to protect over 57,000 ha of agricultural and residential land in the Carrot River Valley and Pasquia Polder area.
A series of pumping stations located throughout the Pasquia Polder area southwest of The Pas are operated to protect agricultural and residential lands.
In addition to the above-mentioned dikes and pumping stations, two Amphibex machines have been staged to break ice along the Saskatchewan River downstream of Ralls Island.
Other Major Waterways
Rivers and creeks in the Parkland region are receding, but some streams impacted by high elevation snowmelt are forecast to receive a second, lower crest.
The Manitoba Flood Forecast Centre will be providing new information this year on the extent of ice coverage on Manitoba lakes. This information is obtained from daily satellite imagery. Advisories will be provided based on potential ice movement on lakes due to wind. This information should assist landowners to understand the risk of ice buildup on shorelines.
For more information, please see www.manitoba.ca/flooding. The most up-to-date highway information is at www.gov.mb.ca/mit/roadinfo or 1-877-MBRoads (1-877-627-6237) and on Twitter by following @MBGov.
