Red River Rises, Spring Flood Forecast

US Flood Risk, Image: NOAA

Sandbagging continues today on the Red River in Fargo, North Dakota. Residents in North Dakota can monitor the latest river stages. As of 11am this morning, the river was at 31′ feet in Fargo, 13′ above flood stage. It’s expected to crest at 38′ this Saturday. They can also watch the river rise through USGS (United States Geological Survey) web cams. Last year, the river rose to 40.8′, a record level for the Red River in Fargo.

24-Hour Snow Melt, Image: NOAA

Rapid snow melt is the main reason for the rising rivers. Near record snowfall across the Northern Plains caused the National Weather Service to put the Red River at a severe risk for flooding.

Red River Webcam, Image: USGS

This is an updated web cam image from earlier today. Look at the obelisk circled in the image. Two days ago, this obelisk was well above the banks of the river.

Red River Webcam, Image: USGS

You can clearly see the banks of the river, the obelisk and a walking trail. This is in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Major Flood Crests, Grand Forks Image: USGS

Here’s a close up shot of the obelisk on the banks of the river. It marks the flood stage of last year’s flood, and the height of the river in 1897, 1979, 1882 and 1996.

To further monitor the situation, here’s a link to TV forecasters in Fargo and Northern Minnesota.

-Dawn Brown

It’s Colder in Topeka Tonight Than Bitter Bismarck

The forecast high in Chicago today is 26 degrees. The average high is 31. While temperatures remain below freezing today across much of the Upper Midwest, it’s still not the bitter cold they were experiencing earlier in December. But the cold, Canadian air is plunging south once again.

Tonight's Forecast Lows, Image: NOAA

Cold dry air from the arctic is sliding south along with a cold front. The high today in Topeka, Kansas is expected to be in the 30s, the lows?, below zero. In comparison, Bismarck’s overnight low will be 3 degrees. It will be warmer in Bismarck tonight than Topeka!

Another interesting advisory for the Dakotas today? Western North Dakota is under a freezing fog advisory. We’ve talked about fog in the past. When a thick fog develops, it will produce a light rain or mist. If it’s really cold, like it is in Crosby, North Dakota today, this light mist can freeze on contact with the ground or an surface it touches. It’s not going to be a thick coating of ice if you compare it to the thick ice that develops during an ice storm. However, it can cause slick and dangerous roads for drivers.

-Dawn Brown