WINNIPEG – WEATHER – Flooding is impacting large areas of Manitoba.
The Province of Manitoba reports that many roads are impassible, and water levels upstream of Winnipeg on the Assiniboine River and Red River are up.
Winnipeg property owners are advised that the increased risk of basement flooding continues due to high river levels and potential for rain this weekend. The Red River is currently at 15.85 ft. and is forecast to go up to 16.7 ft. in the next week.
High river levels increase the risk of basement flooding across the City. Although basement flooding is a risk any time of the year, the risk increases with high river levels because the sewer system must then rely heavily on pumping stations rather than gravity to carry the rainfall runoff.
Steps you can take to protect your home
The following measures can greatly reduce the risk of sewer backup and basement flooding:
- Install a backwater valve and sump pit drainage system
- Check and maintain your backwater valve and sump pit drainage system regularly
- Improve drainage around your house so that water flows away from your basement walls and doesn’t pool next to the basement walls or basement windows
Property owners are reminded it is illegal to drain sump pump water into the basement floor drain or any other part of the house plumbing system, as it can overtax the sewer system placing their basement and those of their neighbours at risk of flooding and damage.
Red River
- The Red River is rising at all points in Manitoba from Winnipeg upstream. The Red River at James Avenue in downtown Winnipeg is at 16 feet and is forecast to go up to 16.7 ft. in the next week. The river is forecast to stay above 14 ft. until mid-July.
- There is the potential the Red River Floodway could be operated under Rule 4, to reduce the risk of basement flooding damages within Winnipeg, depending on weather conditions.
Assiniboine River
- The water level on the Shellmouth Reservoir has increased to 1,410.4 ft. The summer target level is 1,402.5 ft. and the crest of the spillway is at 1,408.5 ft. As the water level has exceeded the spillway crest elevation, flows are occurring over the spillway. Spillway flows will increase or decrease as the reservoir level rises and falls. Inflows to the reservoir are approximately 3,430 cubic feet per second (cfs) today; outflows from the reservoir are approximately 2,650 cfs. Outflows include 1,050 cfs of conduit flow and 1,600 cfs of spillway flow.
- The Portage Diversion is not in operation. Flow on the Assiniboine River upstream of the Portage Diversion is 9,450 cfs. The Portage Diversion will be operated if required to maintain 10,500 cfs along the lower Assiniboine River.
- Weather conditions in the Assiniboine River basin will determine if and when the Portage Diversion will be operated.
Heavy rain and high winds have had significant impacts in many communities and municipalities across southern Manitoba. Many municipalities have declared a state of local emergency (SOLE) and many roads are affected by overland flooding or may be impassable.
Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation reports the following highway closures:
- PR 349 for 15 kilometres west of PT 250 is now closed,
- PR 256 from PR 255 to PTH 2 is now closed,
- PTH 2 from the Saskatchewan border to PR 256 is closed,
- PR 542 from the Trans-Canada Highway to PR 257 is now closed,
- PR 255 from the Saskatchewan border to PR 256 is now closed,
- PR 467 from PTH 41 to PTH 83 is now closed,
- PR 256 from PR 41 to the Trans-Canada Highway is now closed,
- PR 568 from 11.6 km west of PTH 83 for two km is now closed,
- PTH 83 from the Trans-Canada Highway to PTH 2 is now closed,
- PR 568 from PTH 42 to PTH 83 is now closed with access for local traffic only,
- PTH 256 from the Trans-Canada Highway to PR 255 is now closed with access for local traffic only,
- PR 468 from the Trans-Canada Highway to PR 353 is now closed with access for local traffic only, and
- the Trans-Canada Highway west of Brandon has water over the road and may be closed if it continues to rise.
For current highway conditions, call 511, visit www.manitoba.ca, www.mb511.ca or follow the Twitter account atwww.twitter.com/MBGovRoads.
A high water advisory has been issued for all rivers and streams in the Parkland region including the Riding and Duck mountains, and the Dauphin Lake basin. Some specific streams which have seen large rises include the Wilson, Valley, Vermilion, Ochre, Roaring, Turtle and Little Saskatchewan rivers.
The following 24 municipalities have declared a SOLE:
- Archie, Arthur, Brandon (city), Cameron, Coldwell, Cornwallis, Daly, Deloraine (town), Edward, Elkhorn (village), Hartney (town), Grahamdale, Miniota, Oak Lake (town), Pipestone, Roblin (town), Sifton, Siglunes, Strathclair, Virden, Wallace, Westbourne, Whitewater and Winchester.
Provincial officials are in contact with these municipalities as they implement their emergency response plans. The province will deploy flood mitigation equipment, such as Tiger Tubes to areas that may be most affected by flooding.
Environment Canada has issued a gale wind warning for the north and south basins of Lake Winnipeg and a strong wind warning for Lake Manitoba, Lake Winnipegosis and Lake of the Woods.
- On Lake Winnipeg, south winds at 65 km/hr will diminish to 40 km/hr this evening then shift to west winds at 50 km/hr overnight. On Monday morning, the wind will diminish briefly before increasing on Monday evening to northwest winds at 50 km/hr with gusts at 65 km/hr.
- On Lake Manitoba, winds are southwest at 55 km/hr and this evening will shift to come out of the west at 40 km/hr with gusts up to 65 km/hr. The winds will shift to northwest at
30 to 40km/hr on Monday afternoon. - On Lake Winnipegosis, winds were forecast to increase to north at 20 km/hr early this afternoon, then increase on Monday afternoon to northwest at 40 to 50 km/hr.
- Strong winds are also expected on Monday and Tuesday but will shift to come out of the west to northwest.
- For more information, visit http://weather.gc.ca/marine/region_e.html?mapID=04.
Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre has issued a high wind warning for the Lake Manitoba south basin, from the Lynch’s Point to Twin Lakes Beach and on the entire south basin of Lake Winnipeg. Tomorrow’s winds could increase the water level by three to five feet and will produce significant wave action on downwind shorelines.
- There is also a moderate-high wind warning on the south shorelines of Dauphin Lake, Lake Winnipegosis and on Lake Manitoba in the narrows area as well the eastern shoreline of the south basin, north of Twin Lakes Beach. Tomorrow’s winds could increase the water level by two to three ft. and will produce considerable wave action on downwind shorelines.
- The southwest winds today will shift to come out of the northwest tomorrow, and could increase water levels and result in significant wave action on the south and east shorelines of the lake.
Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for much of western Manitoba:
- A large and intense low-pressure system located over the Manitoba Interlake area continues to produce moderate to heavy rain at times across much of southern Manitoba and southeast Saskatchewan. This system has brought exceptionally heavy rain to parts of the warning area over the past 24 to 48 hours with amounts of 100 to 200 millimetres being reported along the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border from Yorkton through Moosomin to Redvers into the Melita and Virden areas. This system will continue to produce locally heavy rain at times this evening before gradually easing overnight into Monday. A further 15 to 30 mm is possible tonight and an additional five to 10 mm Monday before the rains finally taper off Monday night into Tuesday.
- Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible. Watch for possible washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.
