Warmer Weather . . . At A Cost

Well looks like these warmer temps aren't good news for folks up in North Dakota. Since they've gotten so much snow over this winter, the dark blue in ND is showing the current snow depth - somewhere around 20 inches still. The melting/warming trend we're seeing won't be so welcome to them. The NWS predicted what could be nearing flood levels similar to those in 1997. That's Fargo in 1997 below... (April, 1997, Flood: Air view of the diversion channel wrapping around the west and north sides of West Fargo, April 27, 1997. West Fargo was saved from major flooding by this structure. Red River stage (at Fargo): 35.3'. View is toward the northeast. © Donald P. Schwert )

This is the official prediction from the NWS:

"Record to near record flooding is a possibility at a few locations along the Red River. These locations include Fargo, Sabin, Hawley, Dilworth, Hendrum, Hallock and Mapleton.
To access these outlooks, click here, then choose the forecast point of interest. Next, click on the tab titled "Chance of Exceeding Levels During Entire Period". This will present you with the Probabilistic Outlook for the location of your choice. You may also view a text version of the entire outlook by clicking here."

Folks are already clearing snow to make room for sandbags to prevent flood damage in their home. Some are even worried that this year could be worse than the 37-foot flood. So being downriver from them . . . what can we expect in the Northern half of the state and in the Southern half of the state.

Keep watching KDLT this week - I'm going to see if I can do an interview with the hydrologist at the NWS in Sioux Falls to see how North Dakota's flooding will affect us.

Despite the flood outlook, enjoy the warmer weather!
~KDLT Meteorologist Jesse Ritka