Manitoba flood concerns: Interlake crests expected next week
The province expects to operate the Red River Floodway as soon as this weekend to protect Winnipeg properties from a second crest on the Red, expected some time next week.
In the first flood bulletin of the season, issued Tuesday, Manitoba's Hydrologic Forecast Centre has revised its projection for the spring flood on the Red River.
The Red is now expected to crest in Winnipeg at 17.7 feet above normal winter ice level at James Avenue — where the city measures river levels, sometimes expressed in "feet James" — between April 21 and 25, assuming normal weather conditions over the coming week.
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That projected crest is half a foot above the last provincial estimate in March, and comes near the upper limit of what's considered a minor flood in Winnipeg. Anything above 18 feet James is considered a moderate flood.
The last spring flood in Winnipeg, in 2023, crested at 17.9 feet James.
City of Winnipeg spokesperson Tamara Forlanski says no low-lying properties need to be on notice for potential sandbagging.
Residents should prepare ahead of time in case of flooding. (The Weather Network)
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The Red in Winnipeg stood at 15.5 feet James on Tuesday afternoon. In preparation for higher water, the city has activated flood pumping stations, deployed temporary pumps, sealed manholes and closed river gates.
South of the city, the Red is expected to crest between April 20 and 26, the province says. The Assiniboine River crest is expected around April 25.
Red River above Red River Floodway hydrologic forecast on April 14, 2026. (Source: Hydrologic Forecast Centre - Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure)
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Both the Red and Assiniboine are expected to exceed their banks in some areas and flood low-lying properties outside Winnipeg that regularly are deluged in minor or moderate floods. All cities and towns along the Red and Assiniboine have ring dikes to protect themselves against floods of this magnitude and greater.
Interlake crests expected next week
In the Interlake region, runoff on the Fisher River and Icelandic River is expected to begin on April 20 to 21, the province states. Peak flows are expected between April 23 and 28 at Peguis First Nation on the Fisher River, and Arborg and Riverton on the Icelandic River.
The province is still expecting peak flows similar to the 2014 flood in the Interlake, which displaced 600 people at Peguis. A faster melt could create conditions more akin to 2022, when 1,000 people had to leave Peguis.
Peguis Chief Stan Bird said Tuesday the latest forecast predicts the Fisher River will overflow in seven days.
"My biggest concern obviously would be … not being ready," he said.
"Every effort is being made to protect the homes and the infrastructure. But it's a massive undertaking."
More than 200 homes in Peguis need to be protected from the flood, Bird said.
The province said it delivered 110,000 sandbags to Peguis by Monday.
Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor said Tuesday 100 provincial staff are assisting Peguis with flood prevention efforts led by the First Nation.
"This is just about providing the expertise, having the engineers on site who are able to quickly do that assessment," she told reporters at the Manitoba Legislative Building.
The province is also expecting overland flooding in the Parkland area.
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This article, written by Bartley Kives, was originally published for CBC News on April 14. Contains files from Alana Cole