Birdtail Creek
Municipal and provincial officials are assessing a blockage at railway conduit along Birdtail Creek. A culvert blocked by ice on a tributary of Birdtail Creek has resulted in a significant volume of water building up behind a former railroad embankment just upstream of PTH 45.
There is concern ice in the culvert could release quickly or the embankment may fail, resulting in a surge of water travelling quickly down Birdtail Creek.
Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) has advised the rural municipalities of Birtle, Miniota and Rossburn, the Town of Birtle and the Waywayseecappo First Nation and the Birdtail Sioux First Nation. Alerts have been issued by the Manitoba government.
Residents in low-lying areas are advised to prepare for possible evacuations.
Evacuations
Flooding has resulted in the evacuation of 34 people from the Peguis First Nation and additional evacuations may be required.
The federal government and the community are managing the situation in the community. Evacuations are being co-ordinated by the Manitoba Association of Native Firefighters.
Approximately 50 homes have been damaged by flood waters or lost access because of flooding. Water levels appear to have crested in the community.
The Manitoba government has sent 100 Tiger Tube dams to assist with flood-fighting efforts.
General
Temperatures across Manitoba are expected to remain cool overnight but warm during the day across the province this weekend and into early next week.
A low-pressure system will bring rain to western Manitoba later this afternoon. The rain is forecast to continue over Sunday to Monday. Officials will monitor and factor precipitation levels into future forecasts.
Warnings, Watches and Advisories
A flood warning is in place for:
- all points along the Birdtail Creek downstream of PTH 45 and there is potential that a former railway embankment upstream of PTH45 could fail, causing a surge of water to travel quickly down Birdtail Creek;
- all points along the Little Saskatchewan River (due to recent precipitation and rapid snowmelt); and
- the Fisher River, due to potential for ice jams and flood waters being overbank in some areas.
Flood watches continue for:
- the Assiniboine River, from the Shellmouth Dam to Brandon; and
- all points along the Rolling River due to recent precipitation and rapid snowmelt.
High water advisories continue for:
- all points along the Arrow River and Conjuring, Silver and Smith creeks (due to recent precipitation and rapid snowmelt);
- the Whitemud River, from Gladstone to Lake Manitoba (due to increasing tributary flows and ice effects); and
- streams in the Interlake region including the Icelandic River (due to the existing snowpack, rapid rate of melt and the potential for ice jams on some streams).
Emergency Response
The Manitoba Emergency Coordination Centre is open to support communities with flood-fighting efforts.
The Rural Municipality of Fisher reports two homes have been protected with water tube barriers and locations where water is over the roads are being monitored.
The Town of Arborg has delivered sandbags to approximately two houses facing potential flooding.
The Fisher River Cree First Nation has protected approximately seven houses that are affected by local run-off. The Manitoba government is delivering 80 water tube barriers to Fisher River today.
The Town of Minnedosa is monitoring flooding in low-lying areas within the town and has added additional flood protection to its existing dikes.
The Town of Roblin declared a state of local emergency in order to deal with overland flooding caused by spring run-off.
The Town and Rural Municipality of Birtle have declared a state of local emergency to deal with possible flooding along Birdtail Creek.
Red River
Water levels at all points on the Red River are declining and the river is reported to be clear of ice to Netley Creek.
Water levels near Petersfield are still high due to run-off from Netley Creek and the Wavey Creek system. As a result, PR 320 is still closed.
Assiniboine River
The water level on the Shellmouth Reservoir has increased to 1,401.2 feet. The summer target level is 1402.5 ft. Inflows to the reservoir are approximately 11,520 cubic feet per second (cfs) (326 cubic metres per second (cms)) and, following consultations with the Shellmouth Reservoir Liaison Committee, outflows were increased to 720 cfs (20.4 cms).
The Portage Diversion is being operated to reduce the chance of ice jams downstream on the Assiniboine River by limiting the outflow from the Portage Reservoir until the ice cover on the lower Assiniboine River has cleared. Flow on the Portage Diversion is 7,590 cfs (215 cm) and flows on the Assiniboine River downstream of Portage la Prairie are 5,010 cfs (142 cm).
On the lower Assiniboine River, ice is moving downstream. As a consequence, relatively small water level increases may occur. Open water is reported from Portage la Prairie to the Baie St. Paul area.
Souris River
Flows on the Souris River in Manitoba have seen minor increases due to recent rainfall but remain well within banks.
Saskatchewan and North Dakota are co-ordinating releases from dams located upstream on the Souris River.
As a result, a small crest will move through Manitoba in the coming days but is expected to remain within bank.
Whitemud River
A second crest, slightly higher than the first crest, is expected on the Whitemud River.
Interlake Region
Flows this morning on the Fisher River reached 3,500 cfs at Dallas, and the river is believed to be near crest. Provincial officials are in contact with community and federal officials, and are assisting as requested. Ice is being cleared off the bridge at Dallas.
Ice is reported to have cleared off the Icelandic River early this morning.
Ice and snow are backing up flows in some drains and smaller tributaries in the southern Interlake, with overland flooding resulting. Local and provincial officials are responding as required.
The Pas and Northern Manitoba
Snowmelt and resultant run-off in the area of The Pas is beginning, and the Saskatchewan, Carrot and Red Deer rivers are beginning to rise.
It is reported that ice is beginning to lift and move on the Saskatchewan River.
