WINNIPEG – The weather has not been good the past couple of weeks for winter-weary Manitobans anxious for green grass and mitten-free days.
But those living near rivers in the southern part of the province may be singing a different tune.
“I’m cautiously optimistic that the weather of the last seven to 10 days has really been ideal in terms of the slow melt rate and lack of precipitation,” said Larry Whitney, spokesperson for the Natural Resources department.
A few weeks ago, department officials felt there was a bigger threat of severe floods in the southern part of Manitoba.
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Whitney said the Red River will be up to a metre higher than last year and flooding will be worse.
So far, only people in the Morden-Winkler area have experienced the need for hip waders, Whitney said, because of runoff blockage caused by frozen culverts and ditches.
Provincial and municipal work crews cleared channels and ice jams last week.
But Whitney said the river will not rise as high as it did in 1979, when floods affected a region as wide as 32 kilometres and people were forced to evacuate the area.
“A month ago, we were afraid there was a 10 percent chance we might get (1979 levels),” Whitney said, adding cool temperatures have made the difference.
He said agricultural land along the Souris River from the U.S. border to Hartney is swamped, but he added flooding is typical in that area. He expects the river to crest by April 22.
The Assiniboine River, which had record flows in its upper part last year, will not flood nearly as much this year, Whitney said.
