Article by:
Frank McGwire
Overland Flood Watch Upgraded to Warning For Central and Southern Manitoba
Provincial officials have upgraded the overland flood watch to a flood warning and parts of southern Manitoba are bracing as more rain is imminent. The already soaked region received another 20-40 millimetres of precipitation earlier this week and forecasters are monitoring the approaching system which is expected to unfold over the next few days. According to the CBC, dozens of communities are already dealing with flood emergencies.
According to the government-issued flood bulletin, most of the precipitation with this next system could arrive Friday. Some smaller areas could receive more than 40 mm as heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected, Environment Canada said.
The flood watch issued Monday by Manitoba's hydrologic forecast centre has since been upgraded to a warning. Many southern and central regions of the province have been soaked by runoff from one of the snowiest winters on record and further exacerbated by pockets of rain during an above-average damp spring.
A map provided by the Government of Manitoba shows the areas under overland flood watches and warnings in the keystone province. The upgrade to an overland flood warning now affects all of central and southern Manitoba. Major flooding is already affecting some Manitoba communities, while in other parts of the region, most ditches and waterways are near capacity or already filled and overflowing.
According to the government-released bulletin, a warning indicates a higher propensity of flooding to occur based on forecast precipitation, while a watch indicates flooding is possible but not as likely to occur.
As flooding is ongoing in the Interlake, Red River Valley and many other parts of central and southern Manitoba, high water has washed away culverts and roads in some areas, flooded properties and damaged infrastructure. 28 states of local emergency have been declared across the province.
A complete list of flood warnings, watches and high water advisories is available in the daily flood reports found online on the province's website.
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