Report from AccuWeather shows fierce cold and the prospects of a new blizzard are adding to the woes of many battling record flooding over the northern Plains. As river levels rise to new heights in Fargo and other locations along the Red River, the endurance of levees, worker and property owners are being taxed.
Early this morning, Fargo, N.D., joined the growing list of places across the northern Plains that are experiencing record flooding. The flooding will persist well into next week, displacing residents and changing lives and routines of many.
A new storm has appeared on the horizon and threatens to bring heavy snow, wind or perhaps an all-out blizzard to parts of the northern Plains Monday into Wednesday. Drenching rain will fall on adjacent areas to the south and east.
While the prospect of snow does may seem so bad right now, it will add to the misery of those battling or worrying about flooding. That snow will eventually melt and its water will flow into the river systems. The additional rain and melting snow could lead to a secondary rise on some of the rivers, or at least further slowing their rate of fall.
In light of voluntary and mandatory evacuations, there are risks involved for those "waiting it out" and working to save lives. Frigid temperatures and near 32-degree water are posing risks of hypothermia for rescuers, workers and evacuees in flooded areas. The combination of wind and actual temperatures are making for near and below zero AccuWeather Real Feel temperatures.
As flood waters rise in some areas, power may need to be cut to avoid fires like that of Grand Forks in 1997. If history repeats itself, those that stay may have to endure the unusually cold weather pattern, lack of heat, and lack of drinking water.
When flood waters eventually recede, clean-up may be hampered at times by chunks of ice, fuel oil odor and other contaminants. What the water didn't damage, ice and chemical residue will.
The thawing ground and moisture from nearby flood waters is creating saturate soil in some areas at the base of the levees. There is a risk of water boiling up from underneath the levee causing it wash out from bottom up.
Recent forecasts for expected crests have been raised to new levels. In some cases, despite valiant sandbagging efforts, water may simply top the levee, causing it to wash out.
The cold weather has caused sheets of ice to form on some stretches of flood waters. If ice can tear open a ship's hull it can damage levees.
Even if levees hold for now, there is a real danger of long term high water levels. Flat terrain in the region causes these rivers to fall more slowly than others. In some cases, it may take weeks for river levels to drop below flood stage. Large ponds of water (and sheets of ice) may remain in some areas much longer.
Justin Roberti
Roberti@AccuWeather.com
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