The National Weather Service gave a Flood/Weather Outlook for the next 90 days today and this is a summary of what they said for our area:
For the next two weeks we will have normal temperatures with some fluctuations and above normal precipitation. The March through May outlook is, near normal precipitation. Mercer County has less than a 50% chance of flooding to occur on the Knife River. The snow pack for the Mountains in Montana is below normal, but they are only half way through the snow accumulation period and this could change. Ice jams on the Missouri River will continue to be a flood threat for some areas. Otherwise they expect for the next 90 days the Missouri River flow to be near normal conditions. They do not foresee any major weather pattern changes in the next two weeks.
Archive for Flood Updates
Mercer County, ND, Weather Outlook for February through May, 2012
On January 26th, 2012, the Bismarck National Weather Service, gives Late Winter-Spring Outlook
A relatively weaker La Nina compared to last year has resulted in a warmer and drier first half of the winter thus far. This pattern is expected to transition into a somewhat more seasonal weather pattern into early February. Expectations from the Climate Prediction Center suggest an equal chance of below normal…near normal…or above normal temperatures and precipitation through February. Towards later in the spring…the Climate Prediction Center suggests higher probability of another transition to above normal precipitation. Importantly, there is still more than enough of the winter season left to provide significant snowpack before the onset of the spring melt.
September 15, 2011 Mitigation Workshop at the Beulah Civic Center, Beulah ND
On September 15th, at 7:00PM(CT) in the Beulah Civic Center there will be a Community Mitigation Workshop for all Mercer County Residents. Join mitigation advisors and a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) specialist from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at a workshop for property owners on flood clean up and reducing damages from the effects of future flooding and severe storms.
Note: Every $1 spent on mitigation saves $7 in future damage costs.
Missouri River Update for Mercer County, ND on June 6th, 2011
Pick City Water situation update: Jim Hubbert %Engineer for North Central Rural Water Consortium(NCRWC) reports this morning that the emergency rural water line for Pick City has been laid across the Dam, but waiting for the go ahead from the Corps of Engineers to turn it on. Expect this project to be completed by late tomorrow, June 7th, 2011.
Stanton City flood preparations update: City of Stanton has filled 13,000 sandbags and used them to protect the southeast lift station and 3-4 manholes on the east side of the city. The clay/rock plug that has been placed in the City Park on the south side of the boat dock, has only the rock face to complete and crews are working on this now. The ¼ mile long clay dike has been placed around the life station at the corner of Main St/South Av and goes along the east side of Stanton north to the corner of McGrath Av/Arthur St. This dike should be completed by tomorrow.
River Watch Information received today:Garrison (In operation since 1955)
Midnight Elevation
* 1853.5 ft msl
* 24-hr Change (-0.1 ft)
Daily Avg. Inflow
* 100,000 cfs (5 Jun)
* 120,000 cfs (4 Jun)
Daily Avg. Release
* 115,300 cfs (5 Jun)
* 114,300 cfs (4 Jun)
Annual Flood Ctrl & Multi-Use Zone (Elevation)
* 1837.5 ft msl – 1850 ft msl
Exclusive Flood Ctrl Zone (Elevation)
* 1850 ft msl – 1854 ft msl
Top of Spillway Gates
* 1854 ft msl
River Stage (Bismarck)
* 17.23 (0715 CDT 6 Jun)
* Flood stage – 16 ft
* 17.35 (0815 CDT 5 Jun)
Planned Scheduled Releases (Subject to Change)
* Releases will be stepped up to 150,000 cfs by mid June.
* Reservoir will use several feet of surcharge storage above exclusive flood control pool as spillway gates are raised.
* First time in history, spillway gates will be used to pass floodwaters.
Record Pool Elevation (Year)
* 1854.8 msl (1975)
Record Flow (Year)
* 65,000 cfs (1975)
Projected Record Flow (Date)
* 150,000 cfs (Mid June)
Request for Aerial Photos: As of 4:30 pm on June 6th, a request for the Civil Air Patrol to take periodic aerial photos of “area of concern” for the City of Stanton was made. The Area of Concern is the Islands north and east of Stanton, that hold back the main body of the Missouri River and it’s current. If the Islands that are East and North of Stanton get eroded away by the Missouri River’s high flows and strong currents, there is a very real chance that the River would be able to cut into the old river channel. At the mouth of this old river channel is where the clay/rock plug is located. Once a current got into this area and got past the plug, Stanton’s Lift Station and Lagoon area could be compromised.
City of Stanton, ND Continues Work on City Park Clay/Rock Plug
At the Stanton City Park looking south and east on June 6th, 2011, 11:30 AM.
