Manitoba issues a flood warning for part of the Assiniboine River

Manitoba's Hydrological Prediction Center issued a flood warning for part of the Assiniboine River on Friday.

The province says recent rapid snowmelt is causing high flows in rivers and tributaries between Shellmouth Dam and Brandon.

A flood warning has been issued for those areas, the province said, as rising water levels could affect low-lying areas.

Officials say the Assiniboine River is expected to be at its banks by the third week of April.

Shellmouth Dam will be increased from its current 1,000 cubic feet to 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to handle higher flows from Saskatchewan, the province said.

Current flow into the lake is 6,355 cfs.

The center is also watching for a precipitation system that could bring up to 40 millimeters of precipitation, possibly a mix of rain and snow, over much of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and parts of southern and central Manitoba as flows and levels reach their highest levels in most areas. rivers and streams.

The province will include updated flow and level forecasts and a base case assessment is recommended once the exact location, size and timing of the system is known.

Meanwhile, officials said the gates at the Portage Diversion were closed Friday after a brief operation to regulate ice-induced water levels in the lower Assiniboine River downstream of Portage-la-Prairie.