An unusually large amount of rain has prolonged Manitoba's flood season, pushing the province’s lakes and rivers to record levels – and conjuring up images of last year’s massive flooding in southern Alberta.
Some regions received 200 per cent more precipitation than normal in both April and May, said Emergency Measures Minister Steve Ashton, and more rain is forecast.
“That is putting pressure on lakes and rivers throughout the watershed,” said Ashton at a flood briefing. “We're not at flood level yet but we are certainly above the desired level in terms of regulation.”
The rain has pushed water levels up on the Assiniboine River, on Lake Manitoba and in eastern Manitoba.
Companies with farming clients may have already been affected, as water has been diverted away from Lake Manitoba and into the Assiniboine River and that, combined with the increased rain, has caused some agricultural land downstream to flood.
The province is applying for federal permission to operate the emergency outlet at Lake St. Martin which diverts water from Lake Manitoba into Lake Winnipeg, Ashton said.
A significant wind on Lake Manitoba can push water levels up even higher and damage waterfront property, said Ashton.
Just as some of the water is starting to recede, another weather system bringing significant precipitation is expected to arrive in Manitoba dumping up to 30 millimetres of rain on already sodden ground, said Steve Topping, executive director of hydrologic forecasting and water management.
“That could recharge the system again,” said Topping. “This is becoming a long-duration flood.”
