Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre continues to monitor flood activity as water levels on streams and tributaries in most of Manitoba may continue to be impacted by run-off from recent precipitation.

Although water levels on smaller creeks and drains are beginning to stabilize, many larger rivers and streams are continuing to rise as water moves through the system.

Water levels are expected to remain high for an extended duration in many areas in southern and central Manitoba. In the Red River Valley, the province remains at a high state of readiness for water levels similar to 2009 spring flood levels on the Red River

Since April 1, southern and southeastern Manitoba and the United States portion of the Red River basin have received 120 to 160 millimetres (mm) of precipitation, which is between 400 to 600 per cent of normal amounts.

The Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) continues to work with all local authorities and emergency management partners to provide guidance and support for response and recovery activities.

Several communities throughout the province continue to be impacted by high water levels. Reported impacts to date include loss of road access, flooded properties and damage to infrastructure. As a result of these impacts, seven municipal emergency operations centres have been activated and states of local emergency have been declared in the following 18 communities:

Warnings and high water advisories in effect include:

  • A flood warning for the Assiniboine River has been expanded to include the area from the Shellmouth Dam to Brandon.

The Shellmouth Dam is being operated to reduce the risk of flooding downstream on the Assiniboine River while at the same time providing sufficient storage for water supply. Outflows from the dam will be increased today in compliance with operating guidelines. Flooding of low lands along the Assiniboine River will increase as a result. However, the dam is still providing a significant flood reduction benefit as current outflows from the dam are less than half of inflows to the dam. Operations aim to minimize the risk of flooding later during the growing season.

Provincial crews are deployed to a number of communities in southern Manitoba running pumping operations as well as preparing for, monitoring and implementing dike closures as required.  Manitobans are reminded to stay off waterways including creeks, streams, rivers and the floodway. High flows, debris and cold temperatures present a significant safety risk.