Spring Flood Outlook

The National Weather Service has released its 90 day flood outlook for the Red River Valley in western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota.  The good news is there’s a less than 35 percent chance of major flooding across the Red River basin—that’s considered low.  There is a medium risk–a 35 to 65 percent chance–of flooding on the Red River at Fargo/Moorhead and at Oslo.  There’s also a medium risk of minor flooding at Halstad and Grand Forks on the Red River, as well as a medium risk of minor flooding on the Buffalo River in Hawley, on the Wild Rice River at Hendrum, and on the South Branch Buffalo River at Sabin.  And there’s a greater than 65 percent chance of minor flooding on the Red River at Fargo/Moorhead, Oslo and Wahpeton…as well as a high risk of flooding on the Buffalo River at Dilworth.       

Last winter’s heavy snowfall led to major flooding around the region in March once the weather warmed up and the snow melted.

(File photo from Spring 2023)