All This Snow In North Dakota Could Lead To Flooding And Here’s What We Know

It's not unusual for late winter snow to turn into spring flooding in North Dakota. Many North Dakotans recall major floods within the past few decades, such as in 2011 or 1997. The large river valleys in the state collect the melted snow runoff and rise dramatically in some cases. With all the snow we've been getting hit with lately, the National Weather Service has stated that the threat of spring flooding is on the rise - and this is what we currently know:

The heavy amount of late winter snow North Dakota has been getting in 2019 has prompted the National Weather Service to inform us that the risk of spring flooding has increased.

Due to the amount of snowpack, an above-normal amount of runoff draining into the river valleys of North Dakota is likely.

Depending on the amount of precipitation in March, North Dakotan rivers may reach flooding level. Along the Red River, there is a 50% chance it'll surpass the flood stage of 18 feet. It may reach as high as 31 feet in Fargo.

According to the NOAA, this level should only cover a few roads and be generally manageable thanks to systems and precautions put in place by the city.

If their predictions are right, the flood should only close a couple of roads, but as we North Dakotans know from experience, floods should not be taken lightly.

As of right now, the predictions show we won't be seeing record-breaking flooding like those in 2011 or similar, but it never hurts to be cautious and prepared in case you live in a river valley and flooding does happen.

You can see a 6-day flooding forecast on the NOAA website to keep up with current levels as it gets later in the year by clicking here.