Red River ‘expected to remain within its banks’ but snowmelt flooding closes Selkirk Park

There could be localized overland flooding in the western region of Manitoba, while the Red River is expected to peak in Winnipeg March 20 to 22, the Province of Manitoba stated Thursday in a release.

“The Red River is expected to peak at Emerson between March 18 to 20 and at Ste. Agathe March 19 to 21,” the provincial government stated in a release, based on information from the Hydrologic Forecast Centre at Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation. “The crest will arrive in Winnipeg March 20 to 22, resulting in a James Avenue crest between 16 and 17 feet. Potential ice jams could make this peak higher.”

Meanwhile, the City of Selkirk advised that Selkirk Park is currently closed due to snowmelt flooding.

“Due to rising river levels, the park’s drainage system has been closed, blocking the run-off of snowmelt from within the park,” the city warned on its website. “This has led to localized flooding inside of Selkirk Park. The higher river levels have also caused limited flooding of the birding trails at the northern end of the park.”

But the Red River “is expected to remain with in its banks, not requiring any community dike closures,” the provincial government stated Thursday, adding that the forecast peak “will not necessitate the use” of the Red River floodway, “although some water may spill naturally over the floodway entrance.”

In the western area of the province, most rivers and creeks have “started to see minor spring run-off,” the province noted.

“The majority of the spring run-off has yet to occur in these areas because of a slower snowmelt rate,” according to the press release. “Frozen or blocked culverts in drains and small tributaries may cause localized overland flooding.”