AccuWeather.com reports a blizzard emerging onto the northern Plains today and tonight will add yet another test to the flood-ravaged northern Plains. While the worst of the storm is expected to stay south of Fargo and Moorhead, both cities will still pick up a hefty amount of snow.
Weary workers and volunteers who have been battling the Red River in North Dakota and Minnesota will now wait to see how the levees hold. Water levels will remain above flood stage through this week, placing significant stress on the levees.
One dike was breached on the north side of the Oak Grove Lutheran School campus early Monday morning under the pressure of the raging flood waters, inundating several buildings with high water.
At Fargo, the Red River crested just shy of 41 feet early on Saturday morning and has fallen through the start the week. As of early this morning, the water had fallen to 39.44 feet, still at major flooding levels.
A blizzard began to slam portions of the Dakotas Sunday night, and its hefty snow and ferocious winds will continue to spread east today and tonight. While Fargo will not receive the brunt of the storm, strong winds and up to a foot of snow will slam the city through Tuesday.
The snow is much preferred to rain, but the nasty weather could hinder efforts to battle the river. Moreover, snow falls will eventually melt and the water will flow into the river systems. The additional rain and melting snow could lead to a secondary rise on some rivers, or at least further slow their rate of fall.
The forceful winds that accompany the storm will threaten to send sloshing waves through the flood waters, threatening to top levees. Sustained winds will reach as high as 25 mph with gusts over 40 mph possible.
The thawing ground and moisture from nearby flood waters is saturating the soil in some locations at the base of the levees. There is a risk of water boiling up from underneath the levee, causing it to wash out from bottom up.
To learn more or discuss with a forecaster, please contact:
Justin Roberti
Roberti@AccuWeather.com
Or call our 24-hour press hotline:
814-235-8710
