Media Bulletin - Manitoba

FLOOD WARNING ISSUED FOR ETHELBERT AND SURROUNDING AREAS

Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation advises:

• a high water advisory continues for the Swan River and Duck Mountain areas,
• a watch continues for the Assiniboine River from St-Lazare to Brandon, and
• a warning continues for Assiniboine River downstream of the Shellmouth Dam to the Millwood area.

ASSINIBOINE RIVER WATERSHED

Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation advises high water advisories, flood watches and flood warnings continue due to heavy rain.

• Portions of the upper Assiniboine River have received well above the normal rainfall in April to June.  Due to the wet soil conditions, additional rainfall will result in increased reservoir inflows and levels.
• Little rainfall has been reported in the last 24 hours in portions of the upper Assiniboine River Basin.  Precipitation amounts between five and 25 millimetres (mm) are forecast over the upper Assiniboine River Basin and in southern Manitoba in the next three days.  However, these forecast amounts are uncertain.

River Flow Conditions and Shellmouth Reservoir Operations

• The Shellmouth Reservoir level stood at 1,411.72 feet (ft.) this morning, a rise of two inches in the last 24 hours.  The reservoir level is three ft. above the spillway elevation.  The inflow is 5,870 cubic feet per second (cfs).  The conduit outflow is zero.  The spillway outflow is 4,000 cfs.  With median rain amounts from now on, the reservoir level will crest at around 1,412 ft. between
  June 21 and 23.
• Assiniboine River flows are at the tops of riverbanks immediately downstream of the dam including the Shellmouth Bridge and the Millwood area.  The flows of the Assiniboine River at Kamsack, Sask., and the Shell River at Inglis are 3,670 cfs and 1,060 cfs respectively.
• The flow near Miniota is 4,800 cfs.  The river is near the top of the bank, close to 5,300 cfs (1,236.8 ft.).  A crest between 1,240.5 and 1,241 ft. is expected around June 27 to 29 with median weather conditions from now on.
• The flow near Brandon is 4,470 cfs (1,180.84 ft.).  At the First Street Bridge, the level was 1,168 ft. this morning; the flow at the top of the riverbanks at First Street is 8,200 cfs (1,172.0 ft.).  The river is not expected to overtop banks in this area unless heavy precipitation develops in future.  With median rain amounts from now on, Brandon is expected to see a crest at First Street between 1171.3 and 1171.8 ft. around June 29 to July 2.
• The Qu’Appelle River flow at Welby, Sask., rose by 2.4 inches since yesterday and the current flow is 1,800 cfs.
• The lower Assiniboine River main stem will continue to rise due to substantial flows from the upper parts of the watershed.
• The operation strategy for the reservoir is continually reviewed with the Shellmouth Reservoir Regulation Liaison Committee, which has representation from municipalities and conservation districts on the reservoir and downstream of the Shellmouth Reservoir.  Water level conditions at the dam are provided daily to the committee members.

SWAN RIVER AND DUCK MOUNTAIN AREA

• A flood warning has been issued for Ethelbert and surrounding areas.  A high water advisory remains for other areas in the Duck Mountain and Swan River regions.
• Up to 42 mm of rainfall has been reported in the last 24 hours in portions of the Duck Mountain region.  Precipitation amounts between five and 20 mm are forecast over this area in the next three days.  However, these forecast amounts are uncertain.
• Local reports indicate the Ethelbert area received cumulative rain in excess of 2.5 centimetres (cm) from last Wednesday to today which is much higher than earlier reported.  The climate station at Ethelbert has registered up to 1.2 cm during the same time.  As a result, the Mink Creek has experienced a sharp water level rise of nearly four ft. since yesterday.  Mink Creek has crested and is receding at the moment.  Flooding of roads has been reported mainly in portions of the east regions of the Duck Mountains.
• Ochre River has crested and will be receding with fair weather conditions.  The Vermillion River is expected to crest in the next two to three days.  The Turtle River is near crest and is not expected to rise further unless significant rain develops.
• Due to wet conditions in the Swan River and Duck Mountain regions, further rainfall will result in river rises.  Communities in these areas are advised to remain vigilant.  The weather forecast is calling for accumulated rainfall of five mm in the next three days.

Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation will continue to monitor weather across Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba and will provide updates as conditions evolve.

The Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization is working with municipalities and will provide provincial support and resources as requested.