According to the National Weather Service, the risk of spring flooding is above normal in the Red River Valley. The wet fall and near-to-above average snowfall increases flood risk. “Right off the get-go, we’re sitting with conditions charged for runoff. It’s a lot of wet overlaid with some pretty good snow pack,” said Greg Gust, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Grand Forks. “We have more snow and snow water than an average winter would produce. So far, there’s been more than 40 inches of snow in the southern part of the Red River Valley and up to 50 inches of snow in the northern part of the Red River Valley.” Gust also said from September 1 to now, the basin is four to eight inches above normal for precipitation and winter isn’t over yet. “Going into February, there’s not a lot of precipitation in the forecast. The February, March and into April outlooks are showing colder than normal temperatures and a return to slightly wetter than normal conditions. Usually we aren’t talking this serious about flooding until we get into late February, but it’s pretty substantial. Everyone can see all of that excess moisture carrying over from fall.”
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