Recent snowstorms south of the border have upped Manitobas flooding risk on the Red River this spring, but provincial officials dont think it will be enough to force the closure of Highway 75. On Wednesday, Manitoba’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre released its March spring flood outlook, showing a low to moderate risk of flooding in most basins in the province. Right now it is looking really good here in Manitoba when it comes to either normal or below normal precipitation, said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk, pointing to watersheds including the Assiniboine, Souris and Pembina Valleys, along with the Interlake and Whiteshell. These are all sort of below normal as compared to last year, but anything can change. However, the province is warning there is a major risk of flooding on the Red River, from Emerson to the Red River Floodway Inlet, thanks to recent snowstorms in North Dakota. The centre says if the weather is favourable, this risk may only be moderate. We are going to be preparing for the worst, but were hoping for the best, said Piwniuk.
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