Latest flood outlook shows 20 percent chance of Red River exceeding 41 feet in Fargo

FARGO, N.D. - The Red River in Fargo has a 20 percent chance of exceeding 41 feet in Fargo this spring, which would break the record of 40.84 feet set last March, the National Weather Service said in its latest flood outlook released today.

The North Dakota cities of Fargo, West Fargo, Harwood, Abercrombie and Lisbon all have a greater than 90 percent risk of reaching or exceeding major flood stage.

"The magnitude and extent of spring 2010 flooding will likely be similar to that experienced during the spring of 2009," the outlook states, citing three main factors: excessive rainfall last fall, the amount of water in the current snowpack and the prospects for additional moisture through the spring melt period.

The Red has a 96 percent chance of exceeding the major flood stage of 30 feet in Fargo. That's up from an 86 percent chance in the last outlook released Jan. 29.

There's a 30 percent chance the river in Fargo will exceed 40.3 feet, a 50 percent chance it will exceed 38.6 feet and a 70 percent chance it will exceed 37 feet, the outlook states.

The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead is owned by Forum Communications Co.