Major flooding expected on Red River

The likelihood of significant Red River flooding has risen once again in North Dakota and Minnesota, the National Weather Service said Tuesday in its latest outlook.

Theriverhas overflowed its banks the past two springs and sent officials and residents in the densely populated region scrambling to save homes and businesses.

There is about a 20 per cent chance the river at Fargo and neighboring Moorhead, Minn., will surpass the record crest set in 2009 and about a 50 per cent chance it will beat last year's crest, which was the sixth highest on record, the weather service said.

The river is almost certain to surpass major flood stage in Fargo-Moorhead, theweather service reported. In December, the service said there wasless than a 60 per cent chance of surpassing that major flood level.

The probability has increased for several reasons, including above-normal water in the snowpack in the north-flowing river's southern valley.

'The message is, we will prepare for what we have to prepare for, but we will probably start earlier preparations.' Fargo's Deputy Mayor Tim Mahoney

Fargo's Deputy Mayor Tim Mahoney said he was not surprised by the new figures.

"Everybody knows we've had 19 days of snow in a row. We've been shovelling every night," he said.

City officials will be meeting prior to Monday's city commission meeting to discuss which areas need the most flood protection, Mahoney said.

"The message is, we will prepare for what we have to prepare for, but we will probably start earlier preparations," he said.

"We're going to need some help earlier probably than later in this particular area."

In 2009, the river was above flood stage for a record 61 days.

It crested twice first at 12.5 metres on March 28, followed by a crest of10.4 metres abouttwo weeks later. About 100 homes in the area were damaged, and thousands of people evacuated.

The Red River flows north into Manitoba, draining into Lake Winnipeg. Areas through Manitoba's Red River Valley are also bracing for spring flooding.