COMING RAINS EXPECTED TO WORSEN FLOODING IN DAKOTAS, MINNESOTA

April 10, 2001 — Already contending with major flooding from melting snow and a weekend storm system that dumped up to two inches of rain on saturated soil, residents of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota likely will see their situations worsen this week, NOAA's National Weather Service forecasters said. Last weekend's storm pushed rivers to flood levels, and forecasters warn another storm system, with the potential for heavy rain, is on the way.

In North Dakota, the Red River of the North and several of its tributaries are at major flooding levels. South Dakota is experiencing record flooding on the James River and major flooding on the upper reaches of the Big Sioux River. Flooding in Minnesota has shut down roadways near the Minnesota River and the Mississippi River.

"Some of these communities are likely to match record flood levels reached in 1997, if they don't exceed those levels," said weather service central region Chief of Hydrologic Services Kenneth D. King. For example, there has already been record flooding on the Red River at Wahpeton, North Dakota.

King said the forecast calls for additional rainfall, with some heavy downfalls, through Thursday, with no significant precipitation after that for the rest of the week.

"Our forecast offices have been on top of this developing situation," King said. "We were able to provide accurate forecasts of the rainfall coming out of the latest system, and to pass that critical information along to community leaders charged with protecting the people from floods."

NWS forecasters in Minneapolis, Minn., Grand Forks, N. D., and Aberdeen and Sioux Falls, S. D., have been coordinating with federal, state and local agencies to provide the latest information needed to protect communities from flooding, according to King. Major flooding (flooding that causes extensive property damage, evacuations and closing of major roads) is occurring in portions of all three states, he said.

"The soil has been saturated for some time now, and additional precipitation will turn into instant runoff. Some of the river flood levels that had been predicted to for late this week or early next week have already been reached because of the additional rain. More rain is only going to bring us more runoff and higher flooding levels," King added.

In Minnesota, Highways 19 and 93 were closed over the weekend at Henderson, Minn., and Highway 101 was closed Monday morning between Shakopee and Chanhassen. Flooding is expected to force closure of the Mississippi River bridge on Highway 63 in Red Wing later this week. Flooding on the Minnesota River is expected to force closure of Highway 41 in Chaska. Ice jamming against bridge supports on the Red Lake River has caused significant flooding problems in Crookston.

In North Dakota, flooding continues along the Goose River, Maple River, Pembina River, and Wild Rice River feeding into the Red River, King said. "Because the terrain is so flat along the Red River drainage area, it takes a while for runoff to impact the mainstem of the river," he said, adding that flood levels are rising more quickly since that last storm.

NWS offices are coordinating with local officials in several communities, including Fargo and Grand Forks, the Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Geological Survey and state and county agencies to provide the latest information so they can plan how to best battle the flood—whether that is by adding to the height of levees or sandbagging in certain areas.

"Our Aberdeen and Sioux Falls [South Dakota] offices have been coordinating with the South Dakota Governor's Office, State Emergency Management and the National Guard," King said. "Extra staffing has been on hand at all the offices, and the North Central River Forecast Center (which provides river forecasts for the weather service offices) has gone to 24-hour operations."

Relevant Web Sites
Updated information on the flood and weather forecasts for the affected areas may be found on the following NOAA Web sites for the respective weather service forecast offices.

Grand Forks, N.D.

Minneapolis, Minn.

Aberdeen, S.D.

Sioux Falls, S.D.

NOAA's National Weather Service Central Region

NOAA's Hydrologic Information Center

River Conditions from NOAA's Hydrologic Information Center — includes national graphic

NOAA's Flooding Page

NOAA's River Forecast Centers

Media Contact:
Patrick Slattery, NOAA's National Weather Service Central Region, (816) 426-7621, ext. 621

 

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