Rising Red River levels won't require sandbagging in Winnipeg, city says

Recent mild weather in southern Manitoba is expected to raise Red River levels later this week, but not enough to prompt sandbagging in Winnipeg just yet, the city says.

In its first flood bulletin of 2017, issued Tuesday, the City of Winnipeg said the expected rise in river levels an increase of eight to 10 feet toward the end of this week is well within its standard operating protocol. It does not anticipate any properties will need to be sandbagged.

The possibility of spring flooding is on city radar, however, especially after provincial flood forecasters identified a major risk of flooding on the Red, lower Assiniboine and other rivers in southern Manitoba.

• Major flood risk remains for Red, lower Assiniboine and other southern Manitoba rivers

Manitoba floodforecasters will be watching the weather closely over the next two months, as the presence or absence of precipitation will determine the degree of flooding, provincial officials have said.

"The city is actively preparing for the forecasted peak and has responded to an event of similar magnitude in 2009," Winnipeg's flood bulletin says.

"Preparations include ensuring that all flood protection infrastructure is operable and activated, identifying at-risk properties and liaising with stakeholders."

As of Tuesday morning, the Red River level at James Avenue was 7.8feet, or 2.4 metres, above normal winter ice levels, the city saida measure commonly referred to as "feet James."

A second flood crest is expected in Winnipeg later this spring, once all the snow melts, at a level between 17.5 and 22 feet James, mainly because of ice. Weather will determine the eventual crest level.

The upper edge of that range is in line with the flood crests on the Red River in Winnipeg in the 2009 and 2011 floods. The city will recommend sandbagging of some low-lying properties if provincial flood forecasters expect crests around 22 feet James.