Spring blizzard, flood of century hit 15 years ago

The blizzard that spanked southern Manitoba and led to the so-called flood of the centuryhit 15 years go this week.

The snow started falling on April 5, 1997, then the winds picked up and the visibility plummeted.

Over the next 24 hours, the storm dropped as much as 50 centimeters of snow on the Red River Valley.

Every highway and school in southern Manitoba was shut down, planes were grounded, and vehicles were left abandoned in drift-choked streets.

Heavy, wet snow snapped hydro linesand caused theroof of the Sears warehouse in Winnipeg's North End to collapse.

Days later provincial officials dumped more bad news on Manitobans: the flood of the century was a certainty.

The blizzard more than doubled the spring runoff levels, raising river levels quickly as the snow melted.

It's quite a contrast from this year, in which the snowfall amounts werefar lower thannormal and record warmthbrought an early spring.

Trees are budding about a month ahead of time andprovincial officials are warning of a possible drought.