By Associated Press - Thursday, March 7, 2019

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - The Latest on elevated flood risks in Plains states (all times local):

3 p.m.

Add central and southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin to the snow-packed regions where forecasters are warning of possible spring flooding.

The National Weather Service says the flood threat has risen in the past two weeks as snow on the ground increased to near historic highs. The weather service’s warning came even as two more significant snowstorms are in the region’s forecast into next week.

The weather service estimates at least a 50 percent chance of major flood stage on the Minnesota, Crow, St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. The Mississippi threat is from St. Paul southward.

The weather service says flooding depends on how fast the snow melts.

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2:40 p.m.

Officials say extremely wet conditions throughout the Missouri River basin means an increased risk of flooding.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday that it expects 112 percent of the normal amount of runoff water to flow into the Missouri River reservoirs this year. The full flood storage space is available in those reservoirs.

The Corps’ John Remus says officials will monitor conditions closely and adjust releases from the reservoirs if needed.

Kevin Low with the National Weather Service says there is an enhanced risk for flooding in the Missouri River basin.

Several rivers in South Dakota and Iowa below the Gavins Point Dam have a higher risk of flooding this spring. The rivers with higher flood risks include the James, Big Sioux, Floyd and Little Sioux rivers.

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12:45 p.m.

The National Weather Service is warning of an elevated flood risk in Nebraska and Iowa this year because of the combination of wet soil, rivers and streams running high and this winter’s heavy snow.

Earl Imler, with the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, says huge chunks of ice could cause flooding along several Nebraska rivers this spring, but it will depend upon how quickly the weather warms up.

Imler says it would be ideal if there is a gradual warm-up this spring that would allow the ice to melt slowly and eventually float downstream with less flooding.

Iowa officials say they have prepositioned pumps, sandbags and other flood-fighting equipment throughout the state, so they can be ready to respond quickly to flood concerns.

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10:30 a.m.

Forecasters say the threat for major spring flooding is increasing in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota, where the neighboring cities of Fargo and Moorhead, Minnesota have been on alert since a record flood 10 years ago.

The National Weather Service says there’s a 50 percent chance the river will reach 35 feet in Fargo-Moorhead, which is considered major flood stage. That’s up 4 feet from the last flood outlook issued in February.

The two cities have taken several measures such as home buyouts and levees since the record flood in 2009, when the river crested at about 41 feet and the cities were protected by a massive sandbagging effort.

The weather service says much depends on how fast the snow melts.

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