Flooding, high water possible due to heavy rain, wind over several days

Manitoba hydrologic forecasters are warning about the possibility of flooding and high watersfollowing rainy and windy conditionsthat could last several days, starting Saturday night.

In a news release issued Saturday afternoon, the Hydrologic Forecast Centre of Manitoba Infrastructureis reporting the potential for significant precipitation and heavy wind beginning late Saturday and ending early Wednesday morning.

The centre predicts the northern and southeastern regions of the province will be the heaviest hit, with up to 60 mm of precipitation expected to fall in some places.

The release says some areas that are already reporting high base flows and soil moisture and very high water levels are more likely to get 50 to 70 mm.

These areas includewatersheds around the Saskatchewan River, which runs eastward from across the Saskatchewan border into Lake Winnipeg,and the Churchill River, which flows intothe HudsonBay.

Saskatchewan's Water Security Agency warned the Churchill River systemeast of Peter Pond Lakeis about two to three times higher than average after a rise in rainfall in the region over the last month, combined with the spring snow melt and high stream and lake levels there.

There is a low risk of overland flooding in Manitoba's southern and southeast basins,which could receive 20 to 40 mm, including in the Whiteshelllakes area, the province's centre reports.

Up to 50 mm could fall in the Red River basin, but the release saysthere are no high water concerns.