"Imminent Serious Flood Threat" For N. Dakota's Red River Valley, NWS Warns - AFP

[hatrack]

Near record spring floods could begin to swamp large parts of the US midwest as early as next week, the National Weather Service warned Thursday. The Red River valley -- the scene of devastating floods in 1997 -- has experienced above average snowfall over the winter and the heavy runoff onto still-frozen ground poses "an imminent serious flood threat," the weather service said.

"We are looking at a situation with all the ingredients for near record flooding in the upper Midwest," said Jack Hayes, director of the National Weather Service. "Sudden snowpack melts due to warm temperatures or a heavy rain could further complicate the flooding on the northern plains."

Forecasters expect flooding to begin next week and warned that the Red River in North Dakota could see a crest among the top five highest on record. Widespread over-land flooding is expected due to the flat terrain and frozen drainage networks in the Red River Basin.

The threat is so great that the weather service created a new category -- high risk -- to distinguish it from the existing 'above average' category for flood potential.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/US_weather_service_warns_of_major_floods_in_midwest_999.html